NR Narayana Murthy Reflects On Regrets In Career And Personal Life
Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy expressed regrets regarding various aspects of his professional and personal life on Saturday. Murthy, known for his anchor role in establishing Infosys, a USD 83 billion global IT giant, opened up about his sentiments during a book launch event in Bengaluru.
Addressing one of his foremost regrets, Murthy lamented the unequal recognition afforded to early adopters of Infosys compared to the co-founders. He said, “There were several extremely smart, early adopters of Infosys, whom I could not award the kind of stock that I gave to my co-founders.”
He acknowledged their significant contributions and wished he had ensured their equitable reward.
Murthy also delved into the democratic work culture he cultivated at Infosys, where every individual was encouraged to voice their opinions, according to him. However, he said the potential drawbacks of this approach. “The problem with democracies, as we have seen in India, is you don't always get the best result because you always regress to the need,” he noted. Despite the emphasis on inclusivity, he acknowledged the challenges inherent in achieving optimal outcomes.
On Sudha Murthy And Children
Beyond his professional endeavours, Murthy expressed regret regarding the sacrifices made by his wife and author-philanthropist, Sudha Murthy. Despite her academic brilliance and accomplishments, she opted to support Murthy in building Infosys. Reflecting on this, Narayana Murthy said, “I gave her (Sudha Murthy) an option whether she could be in or I could be in. And being the person that she has always been, she allowed me to continue.”
He acknowledged that his wife's sacrifices were significant and deserved recognition.
(L-R): Akshata Murty (Former Director at Catamaran Ventures UK and UK PM Rishi Sunak’s Wife); Sudha Murthy (Author-Philanthropist); Infosys co-founder NR Narayana Murthy; Rohan Murthy (Founder and CTO at Soroco)
Meanwhile, recalling the momentous decision, Sudha Murthy said, “I do not ever regret. Of course, when I did not join Infosys, I felt bad for several days – probably a couple of years.”
However, Sudha Murthy’s perspective underwent a transformative shift as she gained clarity on her path. She realised the inherent opportunities that emerged from not pursuing a career at Infosys. “I had realised that I would’ve retired as a technical director at Infosys if I joined.”
Embracing the belief that every closed door opens a window of opportunity, Sudha Murthy found solace in the doors that unfolded before her. She said, “But God closed one window, he opened other doors for me.”
“I know I could touch common man’s life through Infosys foundation. So, I don’t have regrets,” Sudha Murthy added, speaking on her stint as the Chairperson of Infosys Foundation, which she led from 1996 to 2021.
Also, Narayana Murthy revealed his remorse for not being able to spend more quality time with his children (Rohan and Akshata Murthy) due to his intense focus on building Infosys. He expressed gratitude for their understanding and success but acknowledged the missed opportunities for meaningful interaction with his children, who were present at the book launch.
