Suresh Narayanan Inspires XLRI Students Through Lessons from Maggi Crisis

Nestlé India CMD Suresh Narayanan engaged XLRI students by sharing real-world business insights and leadership lessons drawn from the Maggi crisis.

Suresh Narayanan Inspires XLRI Students Through Lessons from Maggi Crisis

The Xavier School of Management, Jamshedpur, hosted a session in its CXO Series featuring Suresh Narayanan, Chairman & Managing Director of Nestlé India Ltd. Narayanan delivered a powerful and insightful masterclass on “Leadership in Times of Crisis,” drawing from his experience during the landmark 2015 Maggi crisis, one of the most significant episodes in Indian business history.

Addressing a packed auditorium of aspiring leaders, he spoke with humility and clarity, sharing valuable lessons from a period marked by intense public and regulatory scrutiny. More than a typical corporate lecture, the session served as a compelling case study in authentic leadership, core human values, and resilient decision-making.

“Crisis doesn’t build character—it reveals it,” Narayanan emphasized, setting the tone for a session that merged business acumen with personal ethos. Drawing from his experience navigating Nestlé India through unprecedented reputational challenges, he outlined a clear and effective framework for crisis response, centered around these key pillars: 

• Clarity over confusion: Clearly define the problem before acting. 
• Prioritize assessment: Understand the scale and implications. 
• Strategize actions: Track progress and determine the next steps. 
• Trust in facts, not assumptions: Build decisions on verified data. 
• Define accountability: Assign roles to avoid ambiguity. 
• Lead with reason, not emotion: Anchor responds in logic and truth. 

The session struck a chord beyond management frameworks. His core message on authenticity and credibility in leadership especially under pressure was both a reminder and a challenge to the young audience. “Be visible, be vocal, be human,” he urged. 

The event held special significance for many in the audience, who grew up with Maggi not just as a brand, but as a cultural icon. Hearing the story of its turnaround directly from the leader at the helm was both intellectually enlightening and deeply moving. XLRI Jamshedpur extends heartfelt gratitude to Suresh Narayanan for generously sharing his time, wisdom, and firsthand experience with the next generation of business leaders.

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