IIM Nagpur was delighted to host Mr Kamal Bali (President & MD, Volvo Group, India) for the second Keynote speech as part of the Orientation Programme for the PGP Batch of 2021-23. Mr Bali shared his insights on ‘Imperatives of Leadership in Challenging Times’ with the students.
Mr Kamal Bali is a highly regarded figure in the automotive and manufacturing sector in India and internationally. He has helmed many multinational firms, led the transformational journey at Volvo, and has received one of Sweden’s highest honours for his contribution to Swedish commerce in India. In his address to the students, Mr Bali said that leadership is truly tested by our behavior in critical times such as the current pandemic. It is only with an optimistic mindset and the will to look beyond immediate setbacks, that true leaders set themselves apart. He also emphasized that it was essential for leaders to always focus on the purpose of their organization, as it enables us to keep the bigger picture in sight.
Mr Bali related how these values manifest in Volvo’s everyday functioning. With safety, care for people, resources and climate at the core of their work, Volvo has committed itself to a more sustainable, fossil fuel-free future in the coming decade. Underscoring the importance of inclusivity, Mr Bali highlighted that while all leaders should inspire and galvanize their teams towards a common purpose, good leaders should focus on developing and empowering more leaders to strive towards their goals.
Mr Bali then interacted with students who were eager to learn about his thoughts on the future of Indian industry, challenges before managers in the coming few years, and tackling impediments to personal and professional growth.
We sincerely thank Mr Bali for sharing his valuable time and expertise with the students of IIM Nagpur.