The Indian Institute of Management (IIM), Mumbai, hosted a thought-provoking speech on proactive problem-solving by Shri Ravi Sharma, a visionary leader and well-known philanthropist. During the event, Professor Manoj Kumar Tiwari, Director of IIM Mumbai, extended a warm welcome and honored Shri Ravi Sharma. Mr. Sharma delivered an inspiring address that covered key themes close to his heart. He emphasized the importance of taking the first step toward solving problems and encouraging proactive action in all aspects of life.
Professor Tiwari invited Shri Ravi Sharma in recognition of his numerous contributions and diverse experience as a corporate leader and philanthropist. He is an alumnus of several major telecom companies, including Alcatel Lucent, Videocon Telecom, and Adani Power. After transitioning from corporate roles, he now works full-time on societal causes. His efforts encompass education, sustainability, and spirituality. Through his flagship program, ‘Mission Chetna,’ he has positively impacted nearly 10 million citizens across 11 states in India. This initiative has also established a network of NGOs that serve as a sustainable catalyst for transformation within communities throughout the country.
In his speech, Shri Ravi Sharma emphasized the power of taking the first step to solve problems. “Too often, we are paralyzed by the fear of not having the perfect solution,” he said. “But change doesn’t wait for perfection; it waits for action. The first step is always the most important.” He encouraged students, faculty members, and professionals to adopt a proactive mindset in all aspects of their personal and professional lives. This message resonated with the ethos of IIM Mumbai, which aspires to cultivate leaders who are unafraid to confront unstructured global challenges.
A significant part of his speech focused on the transformative power of “Goodness.” Shri Ravi Sharma urged the audience to incorporate this virtue into their daily lives, emphasizing that spreading kindness and taking personal accountability are essential for fostering a more compassionate and inclusive society. “We need to take responsibility for our actions and our role in building a sustainable, spiritually rich world,” he observed. This philosophy aligns with his philanthropic endeavors, such as the Prama Jyoti Foundation, which aims to improve rural education by adopting and upgrading schools in India’s hinterland.
This event at IIM Mumbai served as an opportunity for the next generation of leaders to look beyond conventional solutions and work towards a proactive, compassionate world. It inspired a new wave of leaders who are willing to take responsibility and actively contribute to societal betterment, for, in Shri Ravi Sharma’s words, “actual change happens with small, independent individual actions.”