Dare to dream and live fearlessly
Entrepreneur Rakesh Wahi; Chairman of CMA Investment Holdings, founder of CNBC Africa and Forbes Africa held a book reading attended by entrepreneurs, cultural influencers and media where he shared his life journey and lessons on entrepreneurship.
Wahi who also founded Murdoch University Dubai and Lancaster University Ghana spoke about his life in the Indian Army and how this moulded him into the person he is today. He also touched on numerous other subjects including entrepreneurship, leadership as well as the role of family in building and maintaining a profitable business.
Wahi indicated that trust is essential to all budding entrepreneurs. "Trust is not a word, it is consistent action between people," said Wahi. He added that without trust no business will succeed as it needs to be based on trust and interdependence.
On leadership he added, "Leaders who are able to create succession in their organization are the ones who will live long. As a leader, you need to do what you have to in order to make things work and reach your objective, which is how one betters him/herself."
Wahi also focused on the role of family in business especially the role of one's children. He stated that it is their God given right to be part of the journey and to reap benefits. But in order for the business to succeed, they need to be as competent if not better than others in the organisation.
He added, "My children started at the bottom and needed to show the right attitude as well as having the right skills for the business. It was not a case of them just becoming part of the board, they needed to prove themselves capable of doing the job and ultimately that is what ensured their success."
Important elements in one's leadership journey involve complementary skills set tied in with the right attitude. "What I found to be of great value in my journey was and still is loyalty and integrity in people. These traits ensure that people remain committed to the cause," said Wahi
The book, Be a Lion is inspired by the many lessons Wahi has picked up from studying the behaviour of lions. It chronicles a life journey which began in the Indian Armed Forces, when he joined the National Defence Academy, in Khadakwasla, and continued on the battlefields of the corporate world long after he had left the army.
Wahi's fascination with lions is lifelong. Lions have been revered for as long as humankind has existed. From the Sphinx in Egypt, the Nemean lion in ancient Greece and Rome, Narasimha in India to the historic lion dance in China, irrespective of culture, there is a very deep respect for the royal qualities that the lion embodies. Singapore derives its name from the animal, and famous leaders, like Richard the Lionheart, consciously identify with this awe-inspiring creature.
"The inspiration for this book came in 2012 when I visited the Johannesburg Zoo with my wife, Saloni. We did the usual pilgrimage to the lion's enclosure, and as Saloni and I stood there and talked about our journey together, something told me that I had found the central theme for the story that I have always wanted to tell," says Wahi.
Undoubtedly one of the great reads of 2016, the book is as much a story of family, people, entrepreneurship, wealth creation and preservation and leadership. The author pulls no punches. He tells of the daunting task of setting up CNBC Africa at the time when there was no server-based television network on the continent and all competitors were focused on regional and terrestrial television; the challenge of working with his children; and how to ensure that the business lives on after him.
Born and raised in India, Wahi spent 12 years in the military. In 1986, two years before venturing into business, he was one of the youngest soldiers to be decorated by the president of India with the Vishisht Seva Medal in peacetime. Once he had resolved to set his foot in business, he has never looked back. CMA Investment has representation through its portfolio companies in over 20 countries.
In the book, Wahi says some of the greatest lessons he has learnt came from the military. The most important one was that caring for people, and fearlessly protecting them, is at the core of our existence. No battle can be won without the involvement, loyalty and commitment of the very people we are called upon to lead. These lessons are no different from what a young lion learns as he grows up and leaves the pack as a young adult to form and lead his own pride and create his own legacy.
Proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards the ABN Education Trust which includes bursary opportunities for prospective financial journalists. The ABN Trust has over the few years given away bursaries to the value of 6 million USD.
Ends.
Notes to editors
Book tittle: Be a lion: Dare to dream and live fearlessly
Author: Rakesh Wahi
Publisher: Penguin Books (South Africa 2016)
The book is also available for pre-order on the Apple iBooks store and Amazon kindle.
Apple store: http://apple.co/2e3gbbR
Kindle: http://amzn.to/2eZNykA
integrity in people. These traits ensure that people remain committed to the cause," said Wahi
The book, Be a Lion is inspired by the many lessons Wahi has picked up from studying the behaviour of lions. It chronicles a life journey which began in the Indian Armed Forces, when he joined the National Defence Academy, in Khadakwasla, and continued on the battlefields of the corporate world long after he had left the army.
Wahi's fascination with lions is lifelong. Lions have been revered for as long as humankind has existed. From the Sphinx in Egypt, the Nemean lion in ancient Greece and Rome, Narasimha in India to the historic lion dance in China, irrespective of culture, there is a very deep respect for the royal qualities that the lion embodies. Singapore derives its name from the animal, and famous leaders, like Richard the Lionheart, consciously identify with this awe-inspiring creature.
"The inspiration for this book came in 2012 when I visited the Johannesburg Zoo with my wife, Saloni. We did the usual pilgrimage to the lion's enclosure, and as Saloni and I stood there and talked about our journey together, something told me that I had found the central theme for the story that I have always wanted to tell," says Wahi.
Undoubtedly one of the great reads of 2016, the book is as much a story of family, people, entrepreneurship, wealth creation and preservation and leadership. The author pulls no punches. He tells of the daunting task of setting up CNBC Africa at the time when there was no server-based television network on the continent and all competitors were focused on regional and terrestrial television; the challenge of working with his children; and how to ensure that the business lives on after him.
Born and raised in India, Wahi spent 12 years in the military. In 1986, two years before venturing into business, he was one of the youngest soldiers to be decorated by the president of India with the Vishisht Seva Medal in peacetime. Once he had resolved to set his foot in business, he has never looked back. CMA Investment has representation through its portfolio companies in over 20 countries.
In the book, Wahi says some of the greatest lessons he has learnt came from the military. The most important one was that caring for people, and fearlessly protecting them, is at the core of our existence. No battle can be won without the involvement, loyalty and commitment of the very people we are called upon to lead. These lessons are no different from what a young lion learns as he grows up and leaves the pack as a young adult to form and lead his own pride and create his own legacy.
Proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards the ABN Education Trust which includes bursary opportunities for prospective financial journalists. The ABN Trust has over the few years given away bursaries to the value of 6 million USD.
Ends.
Notes to editors
Book tittle: Be a lion: Dare to dream and live fearlessly
Author: Rakesh Wahi
Publisher: Penguin Books (South Africa 2016)
The book is also available for pre-order on the Apple iBooks store and Amazon kindle.
Apple store: http://apple.co/2e3gbbR
Kindle: http://amzn.to/2eZNykA