At a recent graduation ceremony at the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore (IIM-B), PC Musthafa, the CEO of iD Fresh Food Global and an alumnus of the institute, shared a poignant moment from his past that shaped his entrepreneurial journey. Returning as the chief guest 17 years after his own graduation, Musthafa reflected on a similarly inspiring event he attended during his student days, which featured Mukesh Ambani as the chief guest. This experience, he noted, left a lasting impression on him and played a significant role in his future successes.
During his speech, Musthafa opened up about the highs and lows of his business career, including a challenging period when he had to close his venture in Chennai. He used these personal anecdotes as a foundation to offer three pieces of advice to the new graduates, whom he referred to as “future leaders.”
The first piece of advice centered on the importance of resilience. Musthafa emphasized that setbacks are not failures but stepping stones to greater success. He encouraged the students to embrace challenges and learn from every experience, good or bad.
His second tip dealt with the value of innovation. He stressed that continuous innovation is crucial in any business, urging the students to always look for ways to improve and adapt, keeping ahead of industry trends and customer expectations.
Finally, Musthafa highlighted the significance of ethical leadership. He advised the graduates to always operate with integrity and lead by example, fostering environments where honesty and transparency are prioritized.
Musthafa’s 7-minute message, laden with these insights, was not just a recount of his journey but a roadmap for those poised to enter the competitive world of business. His talk ended on a hopeful note, with a call to the students to pursue their dreams with passion and perseverance, inspired by his own experiences and the influential figures he encountered along the way, like Mukesh Ambani.
