Essays

Since time immemorial, we have witnessed the fact that sons inherit the legacy of their fathers. Mukesh Ambani's story has a similar start. It is a well-known fact that some people squander the fortune given to them while some others build it into a formidable business empire. He belongs to the latter genre and indeed, has come a long way till now. His journey has not witnessed a break since then. He heads Reliance Industries, India's largest private sector company.

Born on April 19, 1957 in Yemen, Mukesh was a bright child. Having grown under the tutelage of his astute businessman father. Dhirubhai Ambani, Mukesh learnt the tricks of trade from him. His father instilled the core values of hard work and value for money since a tender age. Not a very learned man. Dhirubhai wanted his sons to acquire higher education at the best of institutes.

Following his father's wishes, Mukesh completed his bachelors in chemical engineering from the University of Mumbai, Department of Chemical Technology (UDCT). Then, he began his MBA programme at Stanford Business school, but failed to finish it. He dropped out after his first year in order to assist his father in building the Patalgdnga, Petrochemical Plant. Soon he joined Reliance in 1981 and initiated Reliance's backward integration from textiles into polyester fibres and further into petrochemicals. In the process, he directed the creation of 60 new, world-class manufacturing facilities involving diverse technologies that have raised Reliance's manufacturing capability from less than a million tonne to twelve million tonne per year.

A stoic and diligent businessman with a panache to look into the future, Mukesh Ambani directed and led the creation of the World's largest grass roots petroleum refinery at Jamnagar, with a present capacity of 660.000 barrels per day.

Communication is holding the world together today and that is the reason why the world has become a much smaller place. A visionary, Mukesh had foreseen this development. He set up the largest and most complex information and communications technology in the world in the form of Reliance Infocomm Limited. Covering more than 1,100 towns and cities across India, Reliance Infocomm offers the full range of voice, data, video and value added services at the lowest entry cost and services cost any where in the world. However, Reliance Infocomm is now under ADAG (Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group) after the brothers' split.

Exploring and setting an indelible imprint in varied fields has been the hallmark of Mukesh Ambani since the beginning. He is steering a world-class offshore, deep water oil and gas exploration and production programme. He has created a pan-India petroleum retail network involving 5,800 outlets. Also in the pipeline is a research led life sciences' initiative covering medical, plant and industrial biotechnology.

Equipped with the right leadership skills and aura, Mukesh Ambani has been ranked 42nd among the 'World's most Respected Business Leaders/ He is ranked second among the four Indian CEOs featured in a survey conducted by Price Water House Coopers, an esteemed organization in the business world. Statistics prove this point- For instance, the combined market capitalization of the four Mukesh Ambani group Companies—RIL, Reliance Petroleum (RPL), 1PCL and Reliance Industrial Infrastructure Ltd (RIIL) has crossed the $2,50,000 crore mark.

No doubt, all this sounds very impressive but it was not a smooth ride throughout. His ugly spat with brother Anil Ambani resulted in separation of business assets, still, he cemented his control over $ 16,5 billion (sales) petrochemicals giant Reliance Industries. After family matriarch, Kokilaben brokered a settlement with his feuding younger brother Anil Ambani/ Mukesh is now planning to list subsidiary Reliance Petroleum to raise money tor a new $ 6 billion refinery. He has also started a mega retail venture.

Now, some nuggets about the personal life of this business monarch. Married to Nita Ambani/ the couple is blessed with three kids. His wife is also involved in numerous charitable and philantrophic activities. The Dhirubhai Ambani International School in Mumbai is a brainchild of Nita Ambani. Mukesh Ambani, with his family, lives in Antilia, the luxurious 27-storey home in downtown Mumbai Undoubtedly, Mukesh Ambani is a destiny's child. He inherited a flourishing business from his father. But it cannot be ruled out that he had added on to the family enterprise- His hardwork is finally paying rich dividends and he deserves so!