From Boardroom to Public Service: A Shift in Perspective
Ashutosh Kumar Thakur’s experience as Chairman of teh Odisha Skill Development Authority marked a meaningful transition from the corporate world, fundamentally altering his understanding of leadership.he observed politicians and public officials who defied preconceived notions, witnessing their effective response to crises like the COVID-19 pandemic and their ability to operate at an immense scale. This led him to question the often-romanticized perception of private sector leadership, realizing that impact in government could be exponentially greater: “In the corporate world, if you push a millimetre, you move an inch. In the government, if you can push a millimetre, you can move a mile. The scale is mindboggling.”
The true reward of his eight years in public service, though, lay in the individuals he encountered – stories detailed in his book. He cites examples like Muni Tigga, a tribal woman operating locomotives for Indian Railways; Kalika sahoo, a high school graduate now assembling Boeing aircraft; Kamini Kanchan, a determined female entrepreneur facing societal bias; and Basanti Pradhan, a former goatherd now a supervisor in a garment factory. He also highlights Soumendra Das, an ITI graduate who built a company with seventy employees and 80 crores in revenue. These individuals, he says, represent “their reality is my abiding dream,” and continue to inspire him long after leaving government service.
Thakur also addresses the frequently enough superficial nature of Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in India. He argues that genuine social change requires a fundamental shift in perspective, viewing businesses not merely as charitable donors, but as “a platform” for community engagement. This platform allows employees to connect, volunteer, and contribute to causes they care about – from blood drives utilizing company facilities to outreach programs in local schools and sustainability initiatives. He points to Mindtree’s innovative project running an IT back office staffed by life-term convicts as a prime example. This approach fosters volunteerism, builds character, and cultivates essential leadership qualities within the association, ultimately creating a more socially conscientious and productive workforce. He believes this integration of corporate and individual social responsibility is key to unlocking CSR’s true potential.
Currently, thakur finds himself in a period of transition, “sitting here, waiting for the phone to ring,” poised for his next endeavor.
