The legacy of Narayana Murthy

Compassionate capitalist, management visionary, and dedicated moralist,  Narayana Murthy steps down from the pinnacle of Infosys, a company of his creation that placed India squarely on the global map of India’s IT dominance. Murthy’s vision of a world where wealth is the great leveler was the primary driver that fuelled his efforts within business in particular and society at large. In today’s context of rampant corruption and a loss of corporate ethics, it would be only fitting to recall Murthy’s early admonition to his crew: “It is better to lose $100 million than a good night’s sleep. The softest pillow is a clear conscience. Never ever do anything that is illegal or unethical…” Above all, Murthy must be remembered as a man of integrity and clear ethical values who did not compromise his principles in driving his company to the exclusive club of reputable global corporations.

The writer is the William D Hacker Chair Professor of Management at US-based Thunderbird School of Global Management