His Early Life:
Azim Premji’s father, Mohd Premji, founded Western India Vegetable Products in Maharashtra, which manufactured cooking oil named Sunflower Oil and washing soap. After completing his education in Mumbai, Azim Premji attended Stanford University to study Electrical Engineering. He received a call informing him of his father’s untimely death. He had to abandon his engineering studies in the middle of his studies to take over his father’s business and return to India, despite the fact that he was just 21 years old at the time.
His Struggle:
After he joined the company, one shareholder publicly stated during an annual meeting that Mr Azim Premji should leave. He claimed that the company’s operation is extremely complicated and that a 21-year-old boy cannot run a business. Azim Premji had doubts about his abilities before this meeting.
However, he gained confidence as a result of this encounter. He vowed himself that from then on, he would leave no stone unturned in his efforts to expand the company. He had no prior experience running a business. For him, the first few years were quite challenging. He used to spend most of his time in the factory to better understand the business. Then he began to run the company in his own manner.
Start of his Success:
Following his admission into the business, the corporation began producing new products such as electric products, hydraulic cylinders, IT hardware, and software. IT Services, and so on. When IBM, a large IT company, left India in 1977, it left a lot of opportunities behind. This was the perfect chance for Azim Premji. Wipro became the company’s name after he renamed it.
Wipro later began manufacturing microcomputers. It also began to offer software solutions. In 1989, Wipro partnered with General Electric to form Wipro G Medical System, which began manufacturing imaging products. Wipro started off with IT services and eventually made it their main business.
They also expanded the company’s product line, producing soaps, hydraulic cylinders, and electrical appliances, among other things. He built his company into one of India’s largest by sheer hard work and dedication. The company placed a strong emphasis on quality and client happiness, propelling it to unprecedented heights.
As a Philanthropist:
Mr Premji is India’s biggest philanthropist. From 1999 until 2005, he was India’s wealthiest individual. Even back then, he was more concerned with philanthropy than with fame and fortune. Mr Premji has already given away 35% of his fortune to charity.
In 2001, he established the Azim Premji Foundation to strengthen India’s educational system. His foundation focuses on rural India’s children receiving an education. He believes that all Indians should receive a good education. He claims that if you are privileged, you should aid those who aren’t.
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