Trust, innovation key to future-ready firms: Industry leaders

Kolkata: Industry captains have emphasised that trust, innovation and empowered organisational structures will be critical for building resilient and future-ready institutions, as businesses navigate rapid technological change and evolving consumer expectations.Speaking at the annual regional meeting and conference of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) Eastern Region, themed ‘Vision with Velocity', ITC chairman Sanjeev Puri said long-term institutional success rests on three pillars — vision, values and vitality. "Reshaping the narrative of a legacy institution comes down to vision, values and vitality", Puri said, adding that businesses must move beyond simple diversification to build multiple drivers of growth aligned with market opportunities and institutional strengths.He said large organisations should function like "multiple startups within a larger institution", where empowered teams with clear accountability and access to technology and resources can drive innovation and agility.CII director general Chandrajit Banerjee said institutions must remain anchored in trust and a "country-first" mindset while continuously evolving to address emerging challenges.Shobhana Kamineni, executive vice-chairperson, Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Limited, said trust remains central in sectors such as healthcare where human outcomes are directly involved. "Trust is something we earn every day through every patient interaction and outcome", she said, adding that technology is enabling healthcare providers to expand access, standardise processes and deliver quality care beyond large cities.RPSG Group chairman Sanjiv Goenka said growth is a natural outcome of efficient systems and processes.