To Grow a People : A Company Empowers People to be Who They Know They Can Be  

Siyaram—not a name you likely recognize, but this family-run business is to the largest textile company in India, employing over 7,000 people.

With that much reach, they’re in a powerful position for positive change.

During my time in India, my guide Ramesh arranged to meet his friend and business colleague Mr. Ramesh Poddar, CEO/MD of Siyaram.  The L&D philosophy at Siyaram is about gaining new perspectives, challenging minds and inspiring people.

Mr. Poddar is third generation of the textile-to-rubber dynasty representing the highest attributes of a visionary leader with heart.  In the car driving to the corporate office, I inquired as to protocol and how the discussion would be initiated, as Ramesh requested the meeting on my behalf.  Earlier that morning, we were told Mr. Poddar would be in a board meeting in the afternoon, yet would take our appointment after.  There was still no guarantee and to request time at such a late notice is rarely possible for this level of position.  Ramesh valued his friend’s qualities of patience and tolerance, and suggested I inquire how he is able to conduct himself and his tremendous responsibilities with such ease and grace.  He said we would learn something valuable from such discussion.

We were greeted and led to a small conference room and served water and tea in delicate china cups.  After 10 minutes, Mr. Poddar arrived and spent the next hour in easy and inquisitive dialog, stemming primarily from my work as a transformational life coach. We shared many of the same values on cultivating human potential. Siyaram’s company culture is built on the belief that a person comes to work with a level 75 pleasure factor and when going home to their family, it is to be a higher level.  The premise is, the work is to be pleasurable, and in turn that pleasure stays with the person into their time away from the work. It is the concept of filling up, rather than draining out the life energy of a person. Mr. Poddar’s simple yet profound belief is that we are here to enjoy life, at the end of the day, when one can complete it experiencing pleasure, all is well with the world. As things happen throughout the day, this energy brings patience and tolerance to any seeming obstacle or challenge.

Walking through the open area of work stations, home to 50 employees in this particular department, there is an energetic hum of commerce.  The energy of patience and tolerance is sensed in the air, evidence of Mr. Poddar’s transference of his beliefs to reality.

On the wall is a poster, it reads:
“If you have a vision for a year, grow a flower.
If you have a vision for a lifetime, grow a tree.
If you have a vision for eternity, grow a people.”