I WAS born into a family that was synonymous with Tata from a very young age. Born and lived in the Tata Housing Centre in Mumbai, a gated complex of 12 tower blocks, with childhood friends I am still in contact with, it is difficult to express how integral and transformative the environment was and has been throughout our childhood and upbringing.
Surrounded by hard-working, dedicated, kind and generous people, all of whom as part of the Tata family, exuded strong ethics, loyalty, respect, integrity, dignity of labour, and moral values, we also automatically adopted a similar moral compass with huge importance on people and relationships and staying true to yourself.
My uncles and cousins spent their entire careers at Tata Sons, Tata Motors, Tata Steel. My dad started his career in the 1960s at Tata Sons, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS) and then Tata Share Registry from where he retired. His entire career was devoted and dedicated to the Tatas and their growth and expansion, right until 1999 when he retired.
My dad was a family man as well as a workaholic and I can never forget how his eyes twinkled with enthusiasm and excitement as he showed me punch cards and then welcomed and set up the first IBM Supercomputer hub in TCS Chennai in the late 80s. I accompanied him many times to the pristine white air conditioned rooms with several cupboards and spinning tapes, and was so enamoured with the way people conducted themselves and the respect and camaraderie they had for each other. I realised attitude cannot be taught, only embodied and emulated.
Inspired by how his eyes lit up with passion about the work he did and the pride and humility he had in everything he did, I was truly enchanted. I did engineering in computer science, an internship in my final year at Tata Infotech, followed by my first job in August 1997, working as a software engineer for the Tatas.
Little did I know the immense impact it would have on my career and shape me into the person I am.
Ratan Tata had a vision and a purpose that was way ahead of his time, and he played a critical role in putting India on the global platform as well as doing good for others via philanthropy...
Strength and prayers to the family and everyone who is mourning his loss. Like the businesses and initiatives he built, his spirit will continue to rise, reminding us that authentic leadership is not about titles but about making a lasting, positive impact on the world. Hope we all, in some small way, are able to continue his legacy of making an impact and a difference.
Rashmi Prabhakar is head of SaaS Implementations at Temenos. She is a computer engineer and technologist, an ally and advocate for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and an ambassador for Girls in STEM and Women in Tech. She spent her childhood in Mumbai and has been in London for over 20 years. She posted her tribute on LinkedIn.
