By Emma Jacobs
Born in the foothills of the Himalayas in northern India, Vineet Nayar joined HCL, the information technology services company, in 1985, after finishing his MBA. In 2007, he was appointed chief executive and subsequently vice-chairman in November 2010. The author of Employees First, Customers Second, he infamously executed a Bollywood dance in the aisles of a conference room packed with employees. In 2009, he caused uproar by saying US tech graduates were ?unemployable?, because they were set on starting their own enterprises.
Describe your management style in 10 words.
Employees first, customers second. My role is to enthuse, encourage and enable my employees who are the real value creators of the company.
Which historical or fictional character do you most identify with?
Nelson Mandela and Mahatma Gandhi. They were not in command positions when they galvanised millions of people. Rather they fired people?s imagination.
MBA or real-life experience?
Both. If you do an MBA you work with like-minded people and think through real-life problems.
Have you ever been tempted to work elsewhere?
Yes. I set up my own company in 1993. I have always felt like I?m doing something new in all my years at HCL.
Have you ever cried at work?
I don?t believe work defines me. So it?s not important enough to cry about.
How do you achieve a work-life balance?
When I work I give it 100 per cent. When I am at home, work can?t reach me.
Which characteristic do you most deplore in yourself?
My dancing. I hold an annual event where I dance in front of my employees.
I do that because I believe in dismantling the halo around a CEO. By making a fool of myself I think it opens up communication with my staff. But I hate watching the video.
And in others?
Lying.
What advice would you give your 18-year-old self?
Relax, don?t seek advice from anyone and pursue your passion.
What one thing would improve your life?
More involvement in social responsibility.
Which book has proved the most invaluable for business?
Actually, writing my own book. Getting criticised for it proved a very good lesson in management.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Single malt.
Your golden rule?
When on holiday, no one can get me.
Who do you most admire?
Aside from Gandhi and Mandela, Steve Jobs. He also captured the imagination with ideas.
BlackBerry or iPhone?
Neither. I have a distaste for both. I can use them but prefer not to.
What is the worst thing anyone has said about you?
When I joined HCL I was sacked and told I was unfit to work in the IT industry.
What is the worst part of your job?
Dinners. Never-ending dinners with people I?m not interested in talking to.
And best?
Meeting young employees. It?s a steroid boost.
Do you deserve your pay?
No I don?t think so. I?m overpaid.
How would you like to be remembered? :
By an idea; whatever it is.
? The Financial Times Limited 2011