In a time when global business leaders are redefining corporate purpose and strategy in an evolving geopolitical and technological environment, distinct philosophies have emerged to navigate an increasingly complex world. A quick scan across continents highlights their varying views. Sanjiv Puri, Chairman and Managing Director of ITC Limited has put forward an Indian, yet globally relevant, strategic philosophy: TURN standing for Turbulence, Uncertainty, and Rapid Change – which calls for Novel strategies, innovation, and agile solutions to reimagine the future. While Satya Nadella of Microsoft speaks of “tech intensity” and the power of AI to empower every person and organization. Nvidia has been at the forefront of the silicon tech and AI innovation. Its making a pivotal impact in the hardware that goes into further downstream software applications. CEO Jensen Huang is calling AI the ‘greatest equalizer of our time’ and predicts that it will create even more millionaires than the internet. Management guru Parag Khanna, CEO of AlphaGeo talks about how climate change will impact migration, asset values, real estate, and investing – and where that creates new career opportunities and Mukesh Ambani envisions a digital-first India with his “new oil” mantra, focusing on data and connectivity. When Jio came up, it also capitalised on uncertainty and made rapid strides in telecom in India. In the US, Elon Musk, ever the disruptor, pushes for interplanetary expansion and radical innovation as the future of human civilization.
One of the visions most described this year is from Sanjiv Puri who talks about ‘TURN’. In this landscape of bold ideas, he is embracing this challenge head-on, transforming itself into a resilient, future-ready conglomerate built on sustainability, technology, and inclusive growth. “We are living in a time marked by Turbulence, Uncertainty, and Rapid Change. To navigate this TURN, we need Novel strategies, bold innovation, and agile solutions that enable us to reimagine the future, not just for ITC, but for India and the world,” said Puri in his recent AGM address.
Puri’s TURN framework is unique because it is both strategy and call for action. It is about reimagining the future in a fast evolving world by creating a future ready portfolio across businesses, building resilience of supply chains and shaping a mindset of “Conscious Capitalism”. ITC’s legacy as one of the world’s few carbon-positive, water-positive, and solid waste recycling-positive companies is further cemented under this philosophy. Initiatives have accelerated the push toward green energy, climate-smart agriculture, and responsible sourcing, making the company a model for sustainable capitalism. Through programs like Water Stewardship and Climate Smart Agriculture, it is bringing ecological sensitivity, livelihood creation and food security to the forefront of the corporate agenda.
This philosophy is very similar to eminent scientist, Padma Vibhushan Dr Mashelkar’s views where he comments that his co-authored new book, ‘Exprovement: Exponential Improvement Through Converging Parallels’ co-authored with Harsh Haladker “will inspire leaders to look outward for parallels, keeping in mind that ‘obvious’ comparisons can at best lead to improvement, whereas ‘unexpected’ ones can lead to exponential improvement and perpetuate a legacy of innovation.” This turmoil and uncertainty have been responded to by both Sanjiv Puri and Dr Mashelkar who have both given their recipes for success which companies should take.
A digital-first approach across diversified verticals has also helped- including FMCG, agri-business, and hospitality and platforms like ITCMAARS which empowers farmers through digital revolution, AI-powered consumer analytics, and sustainable packaging innovations among others are reshaping how the company creates value.
For startups, employment and innovation- ITC Next, a robust strategy to incubate next-gen products, services, and business models that are agile, tech-enabled, and resilient. Sanjiv Puri has consistently emphasized ‘Responsible Competitiveness’ ensuring that the company’s growth and competitiveness is aligned with larger stakeholder and national goals such as climate action, rural empowerment, job creation, and digital inclusion. The company’s livelihood programmes have positively supported over 9 million livelihoods and 6 million women through skill development and entrepreneurship. With brands like Aashirvaad and Fiama reaching global markets, the company is positioning for international expansion while anchoring it in India’s socio-economic fabric. This vision reflects a blend of world-class competitiveness with Indian values of sustainability, equity, and community.
2025 has been an unexpectedly difficult year with a variety of headwinds from climate change to wars & geopolitical tensions, the Trump tariffs and in this environment it seems that if one follows the wisdom in the advice of distinguished luminaries like Sanjiv Puri’s TURN, Dr Mashelkar, Jensen Huang and Mukesh Ambani, it can lead to the continuous unabated growth in GDP per capita and can fulfill the Prime Minister’s vision of Viksit Bharat by 2047.
Rajesh Mehta is an International Affairs expert working on areas like Market Entry, Innovation & Public Policy.
