Entrepreneur :- Mr.

Azim Premji
Azim Hashim Premji (born 24 July 1945) is an Indian business tycoon and philanthropist who is the chairman of Wipro Limited, guiding the company through four decades of diversification and growth to emerge as one of the Indian leader in the software industry. According to Forbes, he is currently the third wealthiest Indian, and 36th richest in the world, with a personal wealth of US$13 billion in 2011.[3][5] In 2000, he was voted among the 20 most powerful men in the world by Asiaweek. He has twice been listed among the 100 most influential people by TIME Magazine, once in 2004 and more recently in 2011. [6] Premji owns 74% of Wipro Limited, which started off manufacturing hydrogenated cooking fats along with consumer products. It grew from a company of US $2.5 million to a giant of almost $7 billion under Premji's leadership. Wipro Technologies, the Global IT Business of the company, is one of India's largest software companies and is ranked among the top 100 technology companies globally.[7] As a child, Premji went to St Mary's School in Mumbai, and went on to start an engineering degree at the world renowned Stanford University in California, USA. At age 21, his father sadly passed away and he returned from the States to take over his father's business. Thirty years after returning to India to take over the family business, Azim Premji completed his engineering degree. He is married to Yasmeen Premji, and together they have 2 sons, Rishad and Tariq Premji. Rishad is now the Chief Strategy Officer of IT Business for his father's company. Under Premji's management, Wipro Ltd expanded and progressed to new heights, and the business began developing to manufacture other products. This included light bulbs with GE, and later personal care consumables such as soap and baby care. His vision was different to others, and he used eye-catching packaging to entice his consumer audience, pushing his inherited company ahead of the competition and used other intelligent tactics such as cutting out the middle man to further

boost the company's profits. It was very clear at this time that he was extremely business minded, as instead of employing family members in his business, he opted for graduates in management and engineering as he knew this would ensure the success of his company. In 1975, he founded Wipro Fluid Power, a manufacturer of hydraulics and truck tippers. But his thirst for success drove him to continue his search for a niche. In 1979, when IBM were left without permission to continue business in India, he saw an opportunity and turned his attention to the computer industry. Very soon afterwards, his business became one of the world's leading computer producers. This then led to software development, which to this day accounts for a huge proportion of Wipro Corporation's profits. The technology arm of the business now also expanded to manufacturing medical computer systems and office technology products worldwide. Within a short period, the Wipro name grew to $662 million and is now worth much more. Wipro now has many branches including Wipro Products Ltd, Wipro Technologies and Wipro Corporation. According to Forbes who produce the world billionaires list, he is India's second richest man with a fortune of $17 billion. In spite of his fortune, Premji has never let his success and fortunes go to his head. He is reported to stay in standard hotels and travel economy class. In 2001, Premji contributed a significant amount of funding to initiate the set up of the Azim Premji Foundation which is a non profit organisation that focuses on improving education for children in India.

Business expansion When Azim Premji took over as its head, Wipro dealt in hydrogenated cooking fats and later diversified to bakery fats, ethnic ingredient based toiletries, hair care soaps, baby toiletries, lighting products, and hydraulic cylinders. Thereafter Premji made a focused shift from soaps to software.[8] The Amalner-based vanaspathi manufacturing company, the

Western India Products later became Wipro Products Ltd and Wipro Limited subsequently. Under Premjis leadership Wipro embarked on an ambitious phase of expansion and diversification. The Company began manufacturing light bulbs with and other consumer products including soaps, baby care products, shampoos, powder etc. In the 1980s Wipro entered the IT field, taking advantage of the exit of IBM from the Indian market in 1975. Thus, Wipro started manufacturing computer hardware, software development and related items, under a special license from Sentinel. As a result, the $1.5 million company in hydrogenated cooking fats grew within a few decades to an over $6 billion diversified, integrated corporation in services, medical systems, technology products and consumer items with offices worldwide. The companys IT division became the world's first to win SEI CMM level 5 and PCMM Level 5 (People Capability Maturity Model) certification, the latest in quality standards. A large percentage of the companys revenues are generated by the IT division. Wipro works with leading Fortune 500 companies. Wipro also has a joint venture in Medical Systems with General Electric company.[1] Wipro Consumer Care launched brands like Santoor[9] and the Wipro Shikakai[10] in 1986; Santoor Talc[11] and Wipro Baby Soft[12] in 1991; Santoor Facewash,[13] Wipro Sanjeevani Honey[14] and Wipro Safewash[15] in 2004; Santoor Handwash[16] in 2006; Wipro Sweet 'n' Healthy[17] and Chandrika Handwash[18] in 2007 and Santoor Deo[19] in 2010. Wipro Consumer Care acquired brands like Glucovita[20] in 2003; Chandrika[21] in 2004; North West[22] in 2006; Unza[23] in 2007; Enchanteurand Romano[24] in 2008 and Yardley[25] in 2009 and Aramusk in 2011. Azim Premji founded Wipro Lighting[26] and Wipro GE Medical Systems in 1991; Wipro Net[27] in 1999; netKracker[28] in 2000; Wipro Water in 2008; and Wipro EcoEnergy in 2009.

[edit]Honours and awards Premji has been recognized by Business Week as one of the Greatest Entrepreneurs[30] for being responsible for Wipro emerging as one of the worlds fastest growing companies. In 2000, he was conferred an honorary doctorate by the Manipal Academy of Higher Education.

In 2006, Azim Premji was awarded Lakshyalkhjkl Business Visionary by National Institute of Industrial Engineering, Mumbai.[31] He was awarded a Doctor of Literature (D.Litt.), an honorary degree, from the Aligarh Muslim University on the 18th of June 2008 on the occasion of 58th Convocation Ceremony of the University. In 2009, he was awarded an honorary doctorate from Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut for his outstanding philanthropic work.[32] In 2005 the government of India honored him with the title of Padma Bhushan for his outstanding work in trade and commerce. In 2011, he has been awarded Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian award by the Government of India. Philanthropy [edit]Wipro Equity Reward Trust In 1984, Azim Premji established the Wipro Equity Reward Trust[34] to allow employees to acquire stake in Wipro's success and growth. The WERT, which is administered by a Board of Trustees is designed to give eligible employees the right to receive restricted shares and other compensation benefits at the stipulated times and conditions. Such compensation benefits include voluntary contributions, loans, interest and dividends on investments in the WERT and other similar benefits. Shares from the WERT are issued in the joint names of the WERT and the employee until such restrictions and obligations are fulfilled by the employee. After a four-year period, complete ownership of the shares is transferred to the employee. If employment is terminated by death, disability or retirement, his or her restricted shares are transferred to the employees legal heirs or continue to be held by the employee, as the case may be, and such individuals may exercise any rights to those shares for up to 90 days after employment has ceased. [edit]Azim Premji Foundation and University In 2001, he founded Azim Premji Foundation, a not-for-profit organization, with a vision to significantly contribute to achieving quality universal education that facilitates a just, equitable, humane and sustainable society. The Foundation works in the area of elementary education to pilot and develop 'proofs of concept' that have a potential for systemic change in India's 1.3 million government-run schools. A specific focus is on working in rural areas where the majority of these schools exist. This choice to work with elementary education (Class I to VIII) in rural government-run is a response to evidence of educational

attainment in India. In December 2010, Premji pledged to donate $2 billion for improving school education in India. This has been done by transferring 213 million equity shares of Wipro Ltd, held by a few entities controlled by him, to the Azim Premji Trust.[39] This donation is the largest of its kind by any Indian billionaire. The Azim Premji University was established under the Azim Premji University Act 2010 of the Government of Karnataka[38] to run programmes to develop education and development professionals, offer alternative models for educational change and also invest in educational research to continuously stretch the boundaries of educational thinking. Currently the university conducts three degree awarding programmes:

Masters in Development Masters in Education Masters in Teacher Education[35]

Continuing Education The Continuing Education Programme aims to transform existing talent in the fields of education and development. The programme is facilitated by the University Resource Centre which provides learning content and capacity building programmes for professionals in education and development through short-term certified courses. The University Research Centre The URC is being developed with a view to conduct relevant and meaningful research into the education system, especially in India. These researches shall be in a manner that facilitates proactive reforms to the existing education system. Achievements: Chairman of Wipro Technologies; Richest Indian for the past several years; Honored with Padma Bhushan in 2005. Azim Premji is Chairman of Wipro Technologies, one of the largest software companies in India. He is an icon among Indian businessmen and his success story is a source of inspiration to a number of budding entrepreneurs. Born on July 24, 1945, Azim Hashim Premji was studying Electrical Engineering from Stanford University, USA when due to the sudden

demise of his father, he was called upon to handle the family business. Azim Premji took over the reins of family business in 1966 at the age of 21. At the first annual general meeting of the company attended by Azeem Premji, a shareholder doubted Premji's ability to handle business at such a young age and publicly advised him to sell his shareholding and give it to a more mature management. This spurred Azim Premji and made him all the more determined to make Wipro a success story. And the rest is history. When Azim Premji occupied the hot seat, Wipro dealt in hydrogenated cooking fats and later diversified to bakery fats, ethnic ingredient based toiletries, hair care soaps, baby toiletries, lighting products and hydraulic cylinders. Thereafter Premji made a focused shift from soaps to software. Under Azim Premji's leadership Wipro has metamorphosed from a Rs.70 million company in hydrogenated cooking fats to a pioneer in providing integrated business, technology and process solutions on a global delivery platform. Today, Wipro Technologies is the largest independent R&D service provider in the world. Azim Premji has several achievements to his credit. In 2000, Asiaweek magazine, voted Premji among the 20 most powerful men in the world. Azim Premji was among the 50 richest people in the world from 2001 to 2003 listed by Forbes. In April 2004, Times Magazine, rated him among the 100 most influential people in the world by Time magazine. He is also the richest Indian for the past several years. In 2005,Government of India honored Azim Premji with Padma Bhushan.

Azim Hashim Premji was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), India on 24th July 1945 to businessman M.H.Premji. He came from a Shia-Muslim family. His father was the owner of Wipro Ltd, at that time Western India Products, a vegetable fat manufacturer. As a child, Premji went to St Mary's School in Mumbai, and went on to start an engineering degree at the world renowned Stanford University in California, USA. At age 21, his father sadly passed away and he returned from the States to

take over his father's business. Thirty years after returning to India to take over the family business, Azim Premji completed his engineering degree. He is married to Yasmeen Premji, and together they have 2 sons, Rishad and Tariq Premji. Rishad is now the Chief Strategy Officer of IT Business for his father's company. Under Premji's management, Wipro Ltd expanded and progressed to new heights, and the business began developing to manufacture other products. This included light bulbs with GE, and later personal care consumables such as soap and baby care. His vision was different to others, and he used eye-catching packaging to entice his consumer audience, pushing his inherited company ahead of the competition and used other intelligent tactics such as cutting out the middle man to further boost the company's profits. It was very clear at this time that he was extremely business minded, as instead of employing family members in his business, he opted for graduates in management and engineering as he knew this would ensure the success of his company. In 1975, he founded Wipro Fluid Power, a manufacturer of hydraulics and truck tippers. But his thirst for success drove him to continue his search for a niche. In 1979, when IBM were left without permission to continue business in India, he saw an opportunity and turned his attention to the computer industry. Very soon afterwards, his business became one of the world's leading computer producers. This then led to software development, which to this day accounts for a huge proportion of Wipro Corporation's profits. The technology arm of the business now also expanded to manufacturing medical computer systems and office technology products worldwide. Within a short period, the Wipro name grew to $662 million and is now worth much more. Wipro now has many branches including Wipro Products Ltd, Wipro Technologies and Wipro Corporation. According to Forbes who produce the world billionaires list, he is India's second richest man with a fortune of $17 billion. In spite of his fortune, Premji has

never let his success and fortunes go to his head. He is reported to stay in standard hotels and travel economy class. In 2001, Premji contributed a significant amount of funding to initiate the set up of the Azim Premji Foundation which is a non profit organisation that focuses on improving education for children in India.