It was a humid afternoon in Hooghly district when Aditya Vikram Birla stood watching children stream into the newly built Telua Sishu Siksha Sadan Primary School. For the 36 years old chairman of Cosmic Birla Group, this moment represented something deeper than a corporate social responsibility project. It connected the industrial empire he is reshaping with the values passed down through three generations of his family. In the past few years Aditya has taken his group from a traditional steel and engineering player into a diversified powerhouse touching railways, defence infrastructure and most notably electric mobility. We sat down with him recently to explore how he is steering his multi generational enterprise into the future.
Across your career building on a multi generational foundation which experiences have most influenced your leadership style in driving innovation and purpose driven growth?
My family has always been my biggest influence. Growing up hearing stories about how my grandfather and great grandfather built the business through sheer determination taught me the importance of resilience. But, I also witnessed the vulnerabilities of staying in one sector for too long. That realisation pushed me towards innovation that is deeply purpose driven. For me, leadership means building something that lasts across generations while creating real value for our people and the country.
How has your expertise in engineering products components and industrial operations evolved and what core principles guide your focus on excellence today?
My engineering roots gave me hands-on insights into products and industrial operations from an early stage. What has evolved most is my understanding that excellence is not just about technical perfection but about creating smart integrated systems. Today, we focus on complete backward and forward integration across our businesses. This approach gives us better control over quality and helps us respond faster to market needs.
In your view how critical is people centric leadership and purpose in sustaining success in traditional industries undergoing change?
People centric leadership is absolutely essential especially in industries facing big transitions. Machines and technology can change quickly but it is our people who carry the vision forward. Purpose gives everyone a reason to stay committed even when things get challenging. At Cosmic Birla we make sure our team sees how their work contributes to national infrastructure green mobility and community development.
Looking at innovations in mobility, health tech or startups, what opportunities do you see for legacy players to lead in next generation industries?
Legacy companies like ours have tremendous potential in next generation sectors because we bring real manufacturing strength and execution capability. In electric mobility, we leveraged our experience in engineering components and steel products to enter the EV space through Raft Cosmic EV. The same principles can apply to healthtech and other emerging areas. Success lies in blending our traditional expertise with fresh ideas and partnerships.
What advice would you share with aspiring entrepreneurs or leaders in legacy to modern transitions based on your experiences?
My advice would be to respect your roots while having the courage to evolve. Make bold but calculated bets on the future like we did with electric vehicles. Build a strong team and listen to them. Never lose sight of your larger purpose beyond profits. And always measure success not just by turnover but by the positive difference you make in people’s lives.
