Passion is the Secret: Indian Finance CEO Naina Lal Kidwai
In the world of finance, Naina Lal Kidwai is undoubtedly one of the most powerful and influential persons in the world.
The secret, she reveals, is her passion for work. “We need to be passionate and driven to achieve any goal we choose,” she says. “We need to push the limits of achievement and better our performance all the time. I think we should be ‘engaged’ in the profession of our choice rather than just ‘work hard’ in our chosen work area. We need to literally set ourselves on fire with our objectives.”
Kidwai’s own career is an excellent example of her principles. After obtaining a bachelor’s degree in economics from Delhi University, she went on to get her masters in business administration from Harvard Business School in 1982. She returned to India to work with Morgan Stanley and initiated the merger of JM Financial and Morgan Stanley in India in 1998. In 2002 she became vice chairman and managing director for HSBC Securities and Capital Markets India Private Limited, in 2006 she became CEO, and in 2009 she became the group’s country head.
Her unwillingness to stay complacent is what fuels her success. She is a shining example of what one can do with focus, passion, and determination.
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