Leading with purpose creates wins for consumers, community and country: Hina Nagarajan of Diageo India

'Largest employer in the world is inefficiency': CRED's Kunal Shah at Storyboard18 Global Pioneers Summit

Unheard tales of Maggi’s redemption: How poetry and nostalgia revived an iconic brand

Content creator Raj Shamani’s journey: Prioritizing substance over virality

MIB’s Ashwini Vaishnaw at Storyboard18 DNPA Conclave: Govt working for fair compensation for media houses

Nobody’s Perfect Retro Porsche Ad

In Conversation With Raja Rajamannar, Mastercard

Shahid Kapoor And Varun Ganjoo Speaks On PokerBaazi's Campaign

In conversation with IHCL’s Puneet Chhatwal & GroupM’s Kate Scott-Dawkins

Why are brands including e-sports in their sports marketing itinerary?

Storyboard18 x The English Nut: How to pronounce these 10 brand names

Experts' Take On Reinvention Of Ad Campaigns Through Technology

Experts Speak On Key Emerging Trends In Cannes Lions Entries

Leaders of the future have to be outstanding human beings: Nestle MD

In conversation with VMLY&R’s Hari Ramanathan

After Chairman Emeritus of Infosys Narayan Murthy's urge to work 70 hours a week, L&amp;T Chairman S.N. Subrahmanyan has topped this and said one needs to work 90 hours a week. In a video, he can be seen talking about productivity and how working on Sundays will help productivity rise.

Chairman of Larsen &amp; Toubro (L&amp;T), S.N. Subrahmanyan has found himself at the centre of controversy after suggesting that employees should work on Sundays and put in 90-hour weeks to stay competitive. His remarks, reportedly made during an internal meeting and later shared on Reddit, have drawn widespread criticism from netizens.

<a href="https://x.com/nextbigwhat/status/1877302839980007465/video/1">https://x.com/nextbigwhat/status/1877302839980007465/video/1</a>

In the video, Mr. Subrahmanyan is heard saying, “I regret I am not able to make you work on Sundays, to be honest. If I can make you work on Sundays, I will be happier, because I work on Sundays too.” He went on to question the value of time spent at home, remarking, “What do you do sitting at home? How long can you stare at your wife? How long can wives stare at their husbands? Get to the office and start working.”

The chairman also shared an anecdote to support his perspective, recounting a conversation with a Chinese professional who claimed that China's work ethic could allow it to surpass the United States. According to Mr. Subrahmanyan, the individual said, “Chinese people work 90 hours a week, while Americans work only 50 hours a week.” Drawing a comparison, he urged L&amp;T employees to adopt a similar work culture.

The comments have sparked a backlash on social media, with many criticising the dismissal of work-life balance and the unrealistic expectations placed on employees. While Mr. Subrahmanyan’s intention may have been to inspire productivity, the remarks have reignited a broader debate on the importance of balancing work and personal life in today's fast-paced corporate environment.

<a href="https://www.storyboard18.com/brand-makers/lt-elevates-r-shankar-raman-to-the-position-of-president-31182.htm">Also Read: L&amp;T elevates R Shankar Raman to president role</a>


L&T Chairman Urges Working on Sundays, Says 'How long can you stare at your wife?'

During his speech at the Motilal Nehru Institute of Technology's convocation in Prayagraj, N.R. Narayana Murthy, co-founder of Infosys voiced significant concerns regarding India's rapid population growth and its implications for the country's future sustainability. 

Murthy pointed out that since the Emergency in the 1970s, there has been inadequate focus on population control, which now poses serious risks related to land scarcity and healthcare. He compared India with countries like USA, China, and Brazil, which have much higher per capita land availability, to underline the critical challenges India faces. 

Furthermore, Murthy stressed the importance of professional dedication towards national advancement. He urged the new graduates to set high goals, dream big, and exert great effort to realize those ambitions. "A true professional's responsibility is to contribute to the nation's progress," he remarked. 

Reflecting on his own life, Murthy acknowledged the sacrifices of his family and teachers that paved the way for his success. He emphasized the importance of generational sacrifices for the betterment of future ones. "One generation must make many sacrifices to improve the lives of the next," he explained. He credits his presence as a chief guest to sacrifices made by his parents, siblings, and teachers and adds their sacrifices were not in vain. 

Murthy also revisited his earlier statement from an interview last October, where he suggested that young professionals should work 70 hours a week to make India competitive on a global scale. 

He highlighted the need to enhance work productivity and reduce government corruption and bureaucratic delays as critical to achieving international competitiveness. "Unless we reduce the delay in addressing these issues, we  will struggle to match the pace of those countries that have made tremendous progress," he concluded.

Narayana Murthy highlights population control as key to India's sustainability

Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys and one of India's most respected business leaders, celebrates his 78th birthday today. Also known as the "Father of the Indian IT sector", his contributions to the IT industry are unparalleled. 

Narayana Murthy was born on August 20, 1946, in Sidlaghatta, Karnataka, and belonged to a middle-class Hindu family. With a degree in electrical engineering from the National Institute of Engineering and a Master's degree from IIT, Kanpur, he also received an honorary degree from Lancaster University. Murthy's early career saw him working in various technology roles, including a stint in Paris where he developed a deeper understanding of the global tech landscape. 

With a net worth of 510 crores USD, he is a pioneer for millions of Indians who wish to achieve success in the IT Sector. His journey of bringing Infosys from a small start-up he started with ₹10,000 in Pune to now being the second largest IT company in India is commendable. Infosys has increased in revenues from $40,000 in 1982 to $6.99 billion in 2012, with an employee base of 150,000. 

He is married to noted author and philanthropist, Sudha Murthy, and has two children, Rohan and Akshata. Along with his wife Sudha, Narayana Murthy has been involved in various philanthropic activities. The couple, through the Infosys Foundation, has contributed to numerous social causes, including healthcare, education, and rural development in India.

Narayana Murthy has been awarded several civil and humanitarian honors, like the Padma Shri (2000), Honorary Commander of the Order of the British Empire (2007), Legion of Honour (2008), and Padma Vibhushan in 2008.

It was not long ago, Murthy made headlines with his interview for a special podcast, with former Infosys HR director and board member TV Mohandas Pai. Murthy pointed out that India's productivity is one of the lowest in the world and to improve it, the youth must shoulder the responsibility for the nation's progress. "Therefore, my request is that our youngsters must say, This is my country; I'd like to work 70 hours a week," he stated.

He drew comparisons between Japan and Germany, who have extended working hours implemented. Also, for his comments, he received a lot of flak as well as appreciation from other celebrated individuals. Supporters of Murthy, however, argued that his comments were intended to inspire a strong work ethic and a sense of national duty, rather than to impose unreasonable demands. They cited Murthy's own career as a testament to the value of hard work, discipline, and dedication.

As Narayana Murthy enters his 78th year, his influence on India's corporate landscape remains undeniable. While the debate over work culture continues, his legacy as a pioneer who put Indian IT on the global map is secure. His life's achievements and work serves as an enduring reminder of the impact that vision, ethics, and perseverance can have on a nation.

Narayana Murthy turns 78: Celebrating the visionary behind Infosys

Indian brands are back in business. The Kantar BrandZ report that lists India’s top 75 most valuable brands says the country’s strongest brands have bounced back from the pandemic to increase their brand value by 35 percent CAGR since 2020.

Tata Consultancy Services is the most valuable Indian brand, according to the report. The spot was previously held by HDFC Bank for the past eight years. As per Kantar BrandZ analysis TCS’s brand value has been accelerated by global demand for automation and digital transformation following the pandemic.

India’s top 75 brands are now worth a combined USD 393 billion. According to the report, the top 10 most valuable Indian brands together contribute just over half of the ranking’s total value.

There are brands from 23 different categories in the 2022 Indian Top 75 list, out of which 14 are newcomers. Key newcomers to the ranking include Vi at number 15, Byju’s at number 19 and Adani Gas at number 21.

Coming back to the list, the top ten spots were taken by Tata Consultancy Services, HDFC Bank, Infosys, Airtel, Asian Paints, State Bank of India, LIC, Kotak Mahindra Bank, ICICI Bank and Jio.

There has been significant movement at the top, in addition to the two most valuable brands switching positions. There are two new entrants – Infosys which has moved up to number three from twelfth position, and ICICI Bank which has climbed two places to number nine. State Bank of India has also risen four places to number six.

[caption id="attachment_2040" align="alignnone" width="605"]<img src="https://images.storyboard18.com/storyboard18/most-valued-brands.jpg" alt="Most Valued Brands" width="605" height="237" class="size-full wp-image-2040" />  Most Valued Brands[/caption]

According to findings of the report, technology and banking brands account for over half of the total value of all the 75 brands. Six B2B tech brands and 11 Consumer tech brands contribute 35 percent to the total value of the ranking, reflecting the rise of tech in India.

The report states that, overall, B2B brands (tech, payments) are on average almost three times as valuable as B2C brands, reflecting the fact that many of the B2B brands play on the global stage while B2C are more focused on the domestic market.

'Six banking brands deliver 19 percent of the total value. Also notable for their performance are Insurance brands, which have performed well as the pandemic increased consumers’ focus on protection of life and health and Telecom Providers, led by Airtel and Jio which took full advantage of growth opportunities as everything moved online, from education to work to parties,’ the report says.

“India’s leading brands have grown at an exceptional rate, despite global economic headwinds, putting the disruption from COVID-19 behind them. Indeed, they have both driven and benefited from the transformation in consumer and business behaviour as a result of COVID-19, especially where it relates to the use of technology," said Deepender Rana, Executive Managing Director- South Asia, Insights Division, Kantar. 

He added, "The challenge now is to sustain momentum as inflation bites worldwide and consumers and businesses adjust to the new normal. Brand owners will need to work harder to identify and build on what makes worth paying for and ensure ROI on their marketing expenditure to avoid a margin squeeze.” 

INFOSYS