Mukesh Ambani on what he told Reliance Board about analysts' warning on Jio that he calls the biggest risk taken by Reliance Group so far: In the worst case scenario ...
File picture: Reliance Industries Chairman Mukesh Ambani (PTI Photo)
Mukesh Ambani, chairman of
Reliance Industries
, India's largest private-sector conglomerate, revealed insights into his leadership philosophy and the company's bold approach to innovation during a recent interview for the Leading Asia series. Speaking to McKinsey,
Mukesh Ambani
discussed how a clear vision, coupled with the right talent, has helped Reliance grow from a modest textiles business into a global leader in innovation and value creation. The Leading Asia series features in-depth conversations with the region's most influential leaders, exploring the strategies behind their ambitious goals.
Highlighting the company's willingness to take risks, Ambani pointed to the launch of
Reliance Jio
as a defining moment. "We've always taken big risks because, for us, scale is important. The biggest risk we have taken so far was Jio. At the time, it was our own money that we were investing, and I was the majority shareholder," he said. Despite skepticism from analysts about India's readiness for advanced digital technology, Ambani invested heavily in Jio, viewing it as a potential game-changer. 'In the worst case, we will not earn much return. That's okay because it's our own money,' he told his board. 'But this will be the best philanthropy we've ever done because we will have digitized India and transformed the country.'
Ambani said that his leadership idea is rooted in a long-term perspective, inspired by his father's vision of Reliance as an enduring institution. 'You come without anything into this world, and you leave without taking anything with you. What you leave behind is an institution,' he said, recalling his father's words. With Reliance approaching its golden jubilee in 2027, Ambani expressed confidence that the company will continue to serve India and humanity for a century and beyond.
Reflecting on Reliance's evolution, Ambani noted its ability to adapt to a rapidly changing world. 'The Reliance of the 1960s and '70s is completely different from the Reliance of the 2000s and 2020s,' he said. By challenging traditional business school principles, such as avoiding integration across the value chain, Reliance has seized emerging technological opportunities, often surpassing its existing ventures in scale and impact.
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