Sunil Mittal
Sunil Mittal
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Full Name and Common Aliases
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Sunil Bharti Mittal is the founder and chairman of Bharti Enterprises, a multinational conglomerate with diverse interests in telecommunications, retail, and other sectors.
Birth and Death Dates
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Born: October 23, 1947
Died: Not Applicable (still alive)
Nationality and Profession(s)
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Indian national
Chairman of the Board, Bharti Enterprises
Early Life and Background
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Sunil Mittal was born in Ludhiana, Punjab, India. He hails from a family with deep roots in business, which instilled in him an entrepreneurial spirit from an early age. After completing his education, Mittal began his career as a trader in the commodities market.
Major Accomplishments
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Mittal's most significant achievement is establishing Bharti Airtel as one of the leading telecommunications companies in India and Africa. Under his leadership, the company expanded its operations across 16 countries, providing services to over 300 million customers worldwide. His vision and strategic planning helped Bharti Airtel become a market leader in the Indian telecom sector.
In addition to his business accomplishments, Mittal has been instrumental in promoting women's empowerment through various initiatives. He has also supported education and skill development programs aimed at disadvantaged communities.
Notable Works or Actions
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Mittal's notable works include:
Bharti Airtel: He founded the company in 1995 and guided it through its rapid expansion phase, transforming it into a multinational corporation.
Digital India Initiative: Mittal was a key supporter of the Indian government's Digital India program, aimed at promoting digital literacy and bridging the digital divide in rural areas.
Women's Empowerment Initiatives: He has launched several initiatives to promote women's empowerment, including scholarships for girls and vocational training programs for women.Impact and Legacy
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Sunil Mittal's impact on the Indian economy and society is multifaceted. As a visionary entrepreneur, he:
Transformed the Telecom Sector: His leadership in Bharti Airtel has set a new benchmark for the telecom industry in India.
Promoted Digital Inclusion: His support for digital literacy programs has helped bridge the gap between rural and urban areas.
Empowered Women: Through various initiatives, he has contributed significantly to women's empowerment and education.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
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Sunil Mittal is widely quoted and remembered due to his:
Visionary Leadership: His entrepreneurial spirit and strategic thinking have transformed the telecom sector in India.
Philanthropic Efforts: His commitment to promoting women's empowerment, education, and digital inclusion has made a lasting impact on society.
* Business Acumen: As a seasoned businessman, Mittal's expertise in navigating complex markets has earned him recognition as a thought leader.
Quotes by Sunil Mittal
1976, I was all of 18, and when I stepped into the world of business, the capital I had in my hand was 20,000 rupees.
The vision that we and the Rothschilds have for India is to link Indian fields to the world and put the produce, as fresh as it can be, on Western tables in 4-5 days.
I started with capital of about $1,500, a princely sum for a student coming out of college, an amount I borrowed from my father.
We were in the market ahead of competition. We brought new products on the market ahead of competition. We rolled out our networks. We begged, borrowed, stole, put things out. And while they were never near perfect, they were first. And that gave us, to my mind, a lot of advantage.
The only pool of young people lies in Saudi Arabia, some of the Middle-East countries, and few African countries. But they are not prepared as Indians are... we travel well; we are accepted globally very well, and that makes India truly a place to source world's workforce.
On the ground, our operations are in India. We believe we are in a country where the growth is still to be captured, so we will remain reasonably focused in this country.
My first venture was to trade bicycle parts and hosiery yarn. The initial days proved to be difficult, and I earned very little from my business. But I kept at it. Each day, when I retired for the night, I told myself that money would come in the next day.
In my wide travels across the world and my meetings with various heads of states, be that Africa or South Asia, Singapore or in high level meetings in the U.S., U.K. or Japan, one common mention is about Dr. Singh's extraordinary reputation as a Wise Man, an outstanding Economist and a fine Gentleman.
If something goes wrong with my switch, there's no way anyone from Bharti can do anything about it. An Ericsson guy is going to have to come and fix it. I don't manufacture it; I can't maintain or upgrade it. So I'm thinking, 'This doesn't really belong to me. Let's just throw it out.'
I would say history is a clear witness to many of the problems that have erupted when two partners from the same industry or same country have come together.