INDIAN STYLE OF

LEADERSHIP
A Case Study on
Deepak Shantilal Parekh

Vikrant Milton
M.B.A.(P.T.) 1st Semester
I am more afraid of an army of
100 sheep led by a lion than
an army of 100 lions led by a sheep.

- Talleyrand
…something’s not right here
Indian Prespective
• Culture & Values of nation drive Leadership
Style.

• Indian society- collectivist & conservative.

• Leadership- based on Paternalism.

Indian Prespective

• Indian companies- once unknown but now

world class competitors.

• Focus on Indian business leaders & CEOs.

• Source of competetive advantage?

Indian Prespective

• Numerous studies.

• ‘The DNA of Indian Leadership’- Wharton

Business School- Indian CEOs stress on strategic
vision, organizational culture, motivating
employees, setting an example.
Deepak Shantilal Parekh
• Born- 18 October 1944.

• Childhood in Burma.

• CA from England.

• Began career with Ernst & Ernst Consultancy in

New York.
Deepak Shantilal Parekh

• Joined HDFC in 1978. (Nationalistic)

• Transformed HDFC. (Vision & Entrepreneurial

acumen)
Deepak Shantilal Parekh

• As per HDFC employees- hard taskmaster, yet

always accessible & helpful.

• He can cram 48 hour schedule into 24 hours. (Time

Management)

• No HDFC senior employees (Directors, GMs) have

left over past decade. (People Retaining Skills)
 Deepak Shantilal Parekh
• Unofficial Crisis Manager- Mr. Solution-
(Analytical & Troubleshooting Skills)

UTI.
RBI advisory group- Securities Market Regulation.
TRAI.
Investment Commission for FDI inflows.
Satyam
Deepak Shantilal Parekh

• Does not use a computer.

• Interests- Hindi music, Bridge.

• Supports 25 NGOs.
 Deepak Shantilal Parekh

• Awards- (Credibility & Recognition)

Businessman of the Year 1996 by Business India.

JRD Tata Corporate Leadership Award by AIMA.
Corporate Award for Lifetime Achievement by
Economic Times.
Padma Bhushan.
 Deepak Shantilal Parekh

• Deepak Parekh’s greatest gifts is his ability to reach

out to people and make them feel special.

- The Hindu Business Line

Questions