M Suresh Narayanan, the Chairman and Managing Director of Nestlé India, recently delivered a masterclass on “Leadership in Times of Crisis” as part of XLRI Jamshedpur’s esteemed CXO Series. The session was attended by a packed auditorium of future business leaders, who were inspired by Narayanan’s powerful insights drawn from the 2015 Maggi crisis, one of India’s most defining corporate challenges.
Narayanan shared candid reflections on steering Nestlé India through a period of intense public and regulatory scrutiny, and presented a six-point crisis management framework that emphasized clarity, data-driven decisions, and emotional intelligence. The key pillars of his framework included clarity before action, rigorous situation assessment, structured strategic planning, reliance on verified facts, clear accountability, and logic over emotion in decision-making.
The session went beyond corporate strategy to become a deeply human exploration of leadership under pressure, with Narayanan emphasizing the importance of authenticity, integrity, and empathy. He urged students to “be visible, be vocal, be human” and to prioritize logic over emotion in decision-making. A symbolic moment came when Narayanan respectfully removed his footwear before stepping forward to participate in the traditional lamp-lighting ceremony, a gesture that deeply moved the XLRI community.
For many in the audience, the Maggi crisis was more than just a corporate challenge – it was a personal experience, as Maggi was a part of their childhood. Hearing the inside story of its revival directly from the leader who led its resurgence was both intellectually enriching and emotionally powerful. XLRI extended heartfelt gratitude to Narayanan for his time, wisdom, and unwavering commitment to values-based leadership, and his words left an indelible mark on the institute’s aspiring leaders.
The session reaffirmed XLRI’s mission to nurture business professionals who lead with integrity, empathy, and purpose, and provided students with a unique opportunity to learn from a seasoned leader who has navigated one of the most significant corporate crises in recent Indian history. Overall, Narayanan’s masterclass was a compelling and inspiring session that left a lasting impact on the students and faculty of XLRI Jamshedpur.