CategoryBlog

The Good Indian Employee’s Guide to Surviving a Lala Company Summary: Key Ideas, Lessons, and Insights from Rajiv Gupta

By pritam.parashar

In Blog, India & Identity

6 Min Read

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Introduction The Good Indian Employee’s Guide to Surviving a Lala Company by Rajiv Gupta is a humorous yet eye-opening look into the inner workings of Indian family-run businesses. These “Lala companies”, as colloquially called, dominate India’s business landscape but come with their own quirks, power structures, and unwritten rules. The book offers practical survival strategies for employees...

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Themes from “Competing in the Age of AI”: A Reflective Walk Through Strategy, Leadership, Ethics, and More

By pritam.parashar

In Blog, Business & Strategy Classics, Global Trends & Society

7 Min Read

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While researching how AI is redrawing the map of international business, I picked up Competing in the Age of AI by Marco Iansiti and Karim R. Lakhani—driven by both curiosity and urgency. I wanted to understand how AI transforms technology, how it changes the way companies are structured, how they lead, and how they stay accountable in a fast-changing world. As I read, I started grouping insights...

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Doughnut Economics Summary: Rethinking the Future of Prosperity by Kate Raworth

By pritam.parashar

In Blog, Global Trends & Society

7 Min Read

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Introduction What if the economic models we were taught are outdated and harmful for the future we want to build? Kate Raworth’s Doughnut Economics urges us to let go of last century’s obsession with endless growth and adopt a framework that puts both people and the planet at the heart of economic thinking. This book is talking about changing the very shape and purpose of economics. Through the...

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How India Works Summary: Key Ideas, Lessons, and Insights from Aarti Kelshikar

By pritam.parashar

In Blog, Global Trends & Society, India & Identity

5 Min Read

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Introduction In March 2018, I was in Mumbai for a team meeting with Stans Kleijnen, who was then the Executive Director of the Netherlands Foreign Investment Agency (NFIA) in India. During a casual conversation after our session, Stans pulled out a copy of How India Works by Aarti Kelshikar. “This,” she said, “perfectly captures what we face every day working in India’s complex yet fascinating...

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Kautilya’s Arthashastra Summary: Key Ideas, Lessons, and Insights from Kautilya (Chanakya)

By pritam.parashar

In Blog, Business & Strategy Classics

4 Min Read

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Introduction Kautilya’s Arthashastra is a thought-provoking exploration of ancient statecraft, economic management, military strategy, and political philosophy. Written over 2,000 years ago by Kautilya (also known as Chanakya), the adviser to Emperor Chandragupta Maurya, this classic dives deep into the mechanics of power, prosperity, and governance. Its insights into leadership, espionage...

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The Trusted Advisor Summary: Key Ideas, Lessons, and Insights from Maister, Green & Galford

By pritam.parashar

In Blog, Business & Strategy Classics

4 Min Read

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Introduction The Trusted Advisor by David H. Maister, Charles H. Green, and Robert M. Galford is a powerful exploration of how professionals can build lasting trust with clients. The book dives deep into the psychology of advisory relationships, revealing why being right isn’t enough—and how being human builds loyalty. In this post, I’ll unpack the book’s core ideas, takeaways, and case studies...

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Corporate Chanakya Summary: Key Ideas, Lessons, and Insights from Radhakrishnan Pillai

By pritam.parashar

In Blog, Business & Strategy Classics

4 Min Read

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Introduction Corporate Chanakya by Dr. Radhakrishnan Pillai is an enlightening exploration of leadership, strategy, and management through the timeless wisdom of Chanakya (also known as Kautilya). This book reimagines the 4th-century BCE political and economic treatise Arthashastra for today’s corporate leaders, entrepreneurs, and managers. Whether you’re running a startup, leading a...

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Summary of “Why Bharat Matters” by S. Jaishankar

By pritam.parashar

In Blog, India & Identity

4 Min Read

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A New India on the Global Stage This is an India determined to play on the big stage, even changing the stage itself where necessary to advance its interests. I picked up Why Bharat Matters with keen interest, drawn by Dr S. Jaishankar’s reputation for candid diplomacy—such as his remark that Europe needs to rethink its global perspective. I anticipated a book that would reject conventional...

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susan Cain’s “Quiet”: The power of Introverts

By pritam.parashar

In Blog, Productivity & Personal Growth

7 Min Read

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A few years back, I read Susan Cain’s book, Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking. Only recently, during my learning of the Leading Team Course on Coursera, Scott DeRue, of the faculty at Ross Business School at the University of Michigan, referred to Cain’s five personality traits mentioned in her book. This has prompted me to revisit my notes and...

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The Original Muffler Man: A Story of Resilience, Family & Faith

By pritam.parashar

In Blog, India & Identity

4 Min Read

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“In an era where businesses often prioritise profit over principles, ‘The Original Muffler Man’ offers a refreshing narrative of a family that built a global empire without compromising its values.” Intro: A Story of Values With my decade-long association with Akhil Jain (who leads Jain Amar’s global expansion), I saw something rare : a third-generation...

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