Where Are The Role Models?

It's been an interesting year to say the least and it has left everyone feeling a little bewildered, wondering what's going to hit them next and if 2017 is going to be any better. Should they expect Narendra Modi magic in the Budget or is all lost post-demonetisation for the current government? Will Tata manage to wrest back control of all his companies and will the behemoth rise again? Will Jio finally take off and prove that it will be the game changer it has been built up to be? In fact, forget Bharti and Vodafone - once the wrinkles are ironed out Jio has the power to wipe out Paytm (currently enjoying the spotlight) with its integrated interface.

Politically things have crumbled world over. Donald Trump, Brexit, and across Europe and South America. Nationalist tendencies are becoming stronger and the world has started looking inward. What does this bode for a new world order in 2017? We’ve said goodbye this year to Barack Obama, David Cameron, and probably soon to Merkel. We've lost so many people this year who were iconic in their time Fidel Castro, the Thai King, Jayalalithaa. Who will emerge in 2017 as a voice to look up to? Justin Trudeau is too nice, Vladimir Putin too scary and Trump can create a giant rumble in the world order. The jury is still out on Modi.

Businesses have been holding out on hiring, on spending as everyone treads carefully in unknown territory. Money market voices keep saying to hang in there but no one know where to put their money any more. Gold hasn’t recovered, oil has been on a nosedive, upside in markets seems limited for now, will real estate prices finally come down? Will affordable housing take off as it has been pegged to? Bonds will now cool off post the Fed’s new rate regime. Our own central bank governor is quiet. World over central bankers seem to have reached the end of their tether and politicians are feeling the pinch.

Startup Gurus have been crying about the pressure in dealing with foreign brands and their big budgets. The young entrepreneur buzz has got a reality check with more rationalised funding this past year. How important is scale in a market like India and to what extent does it justify spending led growth? Funds need exits and the pressure to see results is only going to build. In the US as well, giants grapple with growth strategies. We could finally see that big Twitter buyout. We still have to see snapchat reinvent and Google Allo take off, and self drive cars will be the next big test in the industry.

The one industry that continues to wage a battle is entertainment. Even through the though times, it never dies. Despite all the glorious names we lost this year, look at those that stood out. Priyanka Chopra made a grand entry on to the global stage, Madonna gave her most moving speech yet at the Billboard Awards - acknowledging that she was one of the last in her league of fame among Prince, Michael Jackson, David Bowie. Beyonce is leading the Grammys this year with 9 nominations. And oh wait - these are all women achievers. Its been a year of women making it to the top - whether by default or by strength - and lets hope many more opportunities for them to come. Next year watch out as Netflix and Amazon take the battle in OTT entertainment to the next level.

While I’m always hopeful, I’m not sure that 2017 is going to be the best year yet. There’s too much sadness in the world still. All our hearts bleed for what is happening in Syria. The world seems unbalanced, and natural disasters continue to take lives and remind us of the uncertainty of it all. I think what we can take away from 2016 is that we never know what is to come, but that change is part of life. All we can do is our bit for a better tomorrow, push through it all and perhaps teach our kids what we’ve learnt - a little bit of humility, empathy and the knowledge that we’re all in this together.