LONDON (UK) – Celebrated Indian yogi and mystic Sadhguru launched the first virtual edition of ‘Isha Insight: The DNA of Success’ on Friday. The three-day event hosted by Isha Leadership Academy is aimed at helping entrepreneurs explore the art of scaling up the business as well as one’s own self as a leader. Led by Sadhguru, the sessions are facilitated by noted Indian entrepreneur B S Nagesh, founder of TRRAIN and executive vice-chairman of Shoppers Stop Ltd.
The event is being attended by 350 entrepreneurs and they include CEOs, potential CEOs and senior business executives apart from founders and promoters of SMEs who want to see their enterprises grow to a global stature. It offers them a platform for interaction as well as the chance to view the success saga of towering figures in the business sphere and explore the DNA of success. This year’s event will showcase the success of businessmen who’ve turned the pandemic crisis into an opportunity.
On the first day of the event, programme host Nagesh welcomed the participants and the 31 resource leaders from different walks of life who have done great service to the community, society and shareholders. “This is a great chance of learning as there is a very diverse group of people brought together. The whole thing is about learning, sharing and collaborating and cooperation,” he said, adding that resource leaders will guide participants and mentor them.
Sadhguru, who heads Isha Foundation, delivered the welcome address remotely from the Isha Institute of Inner Sciences in Tennessee, USA. Addressing the entrepreneurs, he acknowledged the impact of the pandemic, including the fatalities and the loss inflicted on businesses and economies. However, he said most people misunderstand coronavirus as the “greatest disaster to hit this generation of people”, which he said was an exaggeration.
“With all due respect to those who have died and lost their livelihood, in the 20th century, people faced two World Wars, devastating famines, floods and earthquakes. In many ways this pandemic is a softball,” he said, adding that great cities like Tokyo, Berlin and London arose from the rubble of World War Two and it points to the indomitable spirit of humans to come back with vigour.
Sadhguru said the only way to keep the pandemic at bay is by “conscious and responsible behaviour”. Pointing to the fact that many businesses are suffering, he said entrepreneurs should explore opportunities in challenging situations, adding that they need to open their ‘inner eye’ and have the insight to turn adversity into opportunity.
He stressed the point that the quality of life is not determined by our activity and possessions or by touch, taste, hearing and smell. “Arrangements that we make around us do not become ‘us’. The moment you misunderstand the accessories of life as ‘life’, then you make an utter fool of yourself,” he said.
Comparing the pandemic crisis to a minor revolution, he said one needs to be behind the wheel when there is a popular movement instead of being in front of it and getting crushed. Sadhguru reminded entrepreneurs that there are more opportunities in a situation of flux rather than in a status quo situation. “This is a tremendous opportunity for those who dare to call themselves entrepreneurs. What is it that people might need tomorrow? You need to focus on that,” he said, elaborating that in order to become leaders in their respective business, entrepreneurs have to aspire for Insight, Inspiration and Integrity.
His address was followed by a question-and-answer session and a discussion between Nagesh and Hari Menon, co-founder of BigBasket.com. The focus of the conversation was on how Big Basket overcame the pandemic crisis by exploring new opportunities and reaping rich dividends. Participants were divided into groups and they held discussions with resource leaders.
Panel speakers on the second day include Sharad Sharma, an evangelist of the software production ecosystem of India and the founder of the non-profit iSPIRT Foundation, a think-tank aimed at making India a product nation; and Varun Berry, MD of Britannia Industries Ltd. He joined the firm in 2014 after leaving Pepsico. He has 27 years of experience with corporate giants in India as well as overseas. There will also be group discussions with resource specialists.
On Sunday, there will be a live session with Sadhguru in the morning after which he will answer questions from the attendees. It will be followed by another live session with Sanjeev Bikchandani, founder and vice chairman of Info Edge which owns popular job portal Naukri.com.
During the three days, participants also get a chance to link up with more than 900 entrepreneurs who have already benefitted from previous Insight editions and it is the best platform to network and share insights. Isha Leadership Academy, which is part of the Isha Foundation, provides the highest quality of leadership education in India. It has been hosting leadership forums focussed on scaling up leadership, talent management and innovation with C-level attendees.
Sadhguru’s clarity of perception and deep understanding of spirituality, environment, business and international affairs, make him a much sought after speaker at world forums and in the media. Isha Foundation has a volunteer base of more than 11 million around the world and he strives to achieve the mammoth goal of raising human consciousness.
He has penned several bestsellers and they include ‘Inner Engineering: A Yogi’s Guide to Joy’, which was a New York Times Bestseller. The latest is ‘Death: An Inside Story’ published in February this year. His biography is ‘More Than a Life’ penned by poet-writer Arundhathi Subramaniam.
Sadhguru is a yogi, mystic, visionary and a New York Times bestselling author. Named one of India’s 50 most influential people, his work has touched the lives of millions worldwide through transformational programmes. His approach does not ascribe to any belief system, but offers powerful and proven methods for self-transformation. Sadhguru’s flagship programme, Inner Engineering Online, is currently free for healthcare professionals and at half price for all others.
For more information, please visit: innerengineering.com
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