Azim Premji at Davos

OPINION: Atul Chatterjee - August 29, 2008

One example of an advanced community are Ismailis who are advanced, girls and boys study together, in schools run by the Aga Khan Foundation, which also has more than a sprinkling of other Muslim communities and Hindus.

This Foundation has the financial muscle to open a couple of hundre schools. Also it has the capability of absorbing students from other Muslim communities in an atmosphere where there is more open engagement. (Their schools employ non-Muslim teachers and they are not particularly sectarian in their approach.)

Azim Premji the owner of the IT company Wipro is also an Ismaili, most of his foundation´s work is directed at teacher improvement in government schools.

There is little cohesion between the various Muslim communities to tackle Muslim problems. Besides the clergy Muslims do not have another line of social leaders cutting across communities, most Muslim politicians are allied to the clergy.

American Chronicle | India: Tackle Muslim societies then terror.
Couple of Articles on Azim Premji September 20, 2007
Posted by ismailimail in Asia, India, Ismaili Muslims in the News.
Tags: Azim Premji
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Wall Street Journal wrote an article on Azim Premji and his Wipro International “How a Muslim Billionaire Thrives in Hindu India” [WSJ Source]. Then a critical response came from an Ismaili Muslim journalist (Farzana Versey) in Mumbai India [via Mike Ghouse]

Earlier Posts on Azim Premji:

Charlie Rose with Azim Premji
Dale Carnegie recognizes and honors Azim Premji and his team at Wipro
New book about Indian Ismaili Azim Premji
Ismailis in the News: Azim Premji

Charlie Rose with Azim Premji



Dale Carnegie Training® presents `Global Leadership Award’ to Wipro
Wipro is First Indian Company to Win this Award

http://www.businesswireindia.com/PressRelease.asp?b2mid=11881

Bangalore, Karnataka, India, Thursday, February 01, 2007 — (Business Wire India)
Dale Carnegie today announced that Wipro Technologies, the global IT services business of Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) has won the prestigious Dale Carnegie Global Leadership Award for 2007. The award was presented to Wipro by Peter Handal, Chairman, Dale Carnegie Training® at a ceremony held in Bangalore on Thursday.

Dale Carnegie is one of the world’s leading human resources and management consulting organizations and its Global Leadership Awards is one of the world’s most coveted recognition in the Enterprise Training and Development space. Wipro is the first Indian organization to have won this award. Boeing, WalMart, Daimler–Chrysler Corporation and SAS Scandinavian Airlines have been some of the other organizations who have won this award in the past.

This award is granted to a company that places special emphasis on the development of its human resources, innovation and organizational creativity for the purpose of achieving its business objectives. Those companies rewarded are recognized for use of human resources management as parallel to their technology, thus being major contributors to the development of their countries’ economy and society.

Peter Handal, Chairman, Dale Carnegie Training® said, “In Wipro, we recognize those qualities that separate the truly great companies: commitment to providing excellent service and quality products to their customers; dedication to their employees’ growth; understanding of the value of employees and a sense of obligation that compels them to a high level of community involvement. It is for these reasons that we want to acknowledge and recognize Wipro as a truly formidable organization.”

Pratik Kumar, Executive Vice President, Wipro Limited, said that “This award is a testimony to the commitment shown by our employees to pursue a culture of continuous learning innovation and excellence that has made Wipro a globally renowned organization for technology, people and business leadership”.

“Dale Carnegie Training® recognizes and honors the way Azim Premji and his team at Wipro have been able to create a unified culture. It is truly admirable that an organization as large and successful as Wipro continues to believe and stay committed to the success of every individual within their organization. They have been able to create a sense of teamwork and a unified culture and, at the same time, have continued to successfully continue with their aggressive business strategies.” Added Handal.

About Dale Carnegie Training

Dale Carnegie Training (www.dalecarnegie.com) is a global management training company with experts in corporate management, workplace issues and leadership trends. The company provides leadership, sales and management training in over 400 of the Fortune 500 companies, training over 7 million adults in over 75 countries worldwide.

About Wipro

Wipro Technologies, a division of Wipro Limited (NYSE:WIT) is the first PCMM Level 5 and SEI CMM Level 5 certified IT Services organization globally. Wipro is one of the largest product engineering and support service providers worldwide. Wipro provides comprehensive research and development services, IT solutions and services, including systems integration, Information Systems outsourcing, package implementation, software application development and maintenance services to corporations globally.

In the Indian market, Wipro is a leader in providing IT solutions and services for the corporate segment in India offering system integration, network integration, software solutions and IT services. Wipro also has profitable presence in niche market segments of consumer products and lighting. In the Asia Pacific and Middle East markets, Wipro provides IT solutions and services for global corporations. Wipro’s ADS’ are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and its equity shares are listed in India on the Stock Exchange - Mumbai, and the National Stock Exchange.

Ismailis in the News: Azim Premji

FIVE THINGS TO KNOW ABOUT AZIM PREMJI

1. He finished his bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering from Stanford University through a special correspondence program more than 30 years after leaving the school in 1966 to head up Wipro after his father’s death.

2. India’s government gave him the Padmabhushana, one of the highest civilian awards in the country.

3. He established the Azim Premji Foundation, dedicated to creating equitable education across India.

4. In 2004, Time magazine listed him as one of the world’s 100 most influential people.

5. Though Forbes estimates his wealth at $13 billion, he drove a Ford Escort until two years ago. Now he drives a Toyota Corolla.