Narayana Murthy, the co-founder of Infosys, has expressed regret over not adequately rewarding early employees of the company, acknowledging their significant contributions to its success. Speaking at a book launch event, Murthy lamented that he could not provide these employees with the same level of stock awards as the co-founders, despite their invaluable contributions.
The veteran engineer, now a billionaire, admitted that he should have carefully considered the rewards for these early adopters, recognizing their immense value to the company. Murthy emphasized that these individuals would have also greatly benefited from such recognition.
Infosys, founded in 1981 with a modest seed capital, has seven co-founders, including Murthy, Nandan Nilekani, Kris Gopalakrishnan, SD Shibulal, K Dinesh, NS Raghavan, and Ashok Arora. Murthy’s remarks underscore the importance of acknowledging the efforts of all employees, especially in the early stages of a company’s growth.
Murthy also reflected on the democratic decision-making process at Infosys, where everyone’s views were considered before making any decisions. Despite this inclusive approach, Murthy acknowledged that in a democracy, optimal outcomes are not always guaranteed.
Furthermore, Murthy praised key figures in India’s economic liberalization, including former Prime Ministers PV Narasimha Rao and Dr. Manmohan Singh, as well as other policymakers for their role in fostering the tech revolution in the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s recent announcement of Bharat Ratna, India’s highest civilian honor, for Narasimha Rao, further highlights the recognition of his contributions to the nation.
Murthy’s candid reflections serve as a reminder of the importance of recognizing and rewarding the efforts of all employees, particularly in the formative stages of a company’s journey towards success.
