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Leadership Lessons From PM Modi: From Bhuj Earthquake To Tata Nano
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News18•19-10-2026, 13:06
Leadership Lessons From PM Modi: From Bhuj Earthquake To Tata Nano
- •A corporate veteran shares valuable leadership lessons learned from nine interactions with Prime Minister Narendra Modi over the years.
- •PM Modi leveraged distributed leadership during the 2001 Bhuj earthquake recovery by empowering department secretaries to act as administrative leaders.
- •When the Tata Nano project had to leave West Bengal in 2008, PM Modi swiftly welcomed it to Gujarat with a simple SMS saying Swagatam.
- •Key leadership traits highlighted include thinking big, connecting the dots, relentless execution, and profound humility.
- •PM Modi's exceptional attention to detail and photographic memory helped build trust and strengthen relationships with industry leaders.
Key Questions Answered
When PM Modi took over as Chief Minister of Gujarat after the devastating 2001 Bhuj earthquake, he empowered department secretaries to act as the chief ministers of their respective departments and established strict deadlines to accelerate recovery and restoration work.
In 2008, after Tata Motors decided to withdraw the Nano project from Singur, West Bengal, they received a welcome message from then Gujarat Chief Minister Narendra Modi, leading them to set up the manufacturing unit in Sanand, Gujarat.
The author has met Prime Minister Narendra Modi a total of nine times, noting valuable leadership lessons, humility, and trust from each interaction.
