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Business News/ Companies / People/  Five questions with Etienne Benet
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Five questions with Etienne Benet

Nestl India managing director Etienne Benet on importance of entrepreneurship in India

Nestlé India managing director Etienne Benet. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/MintPremium
Nestlé India managing director Etienne Benet. Photo: Ramesh Pathania/Mint

How do you think India can meet the aspirations of its young people?

India has a very huge demographic potential, especially in its young people, and meeting their aspirations is very important. Their confidence in the future is important also because India’s economic growth and social development depend on them. Business is perhaps the best lever to unlock the potential in the economy, create jobs, create markets, and use technology to improve quality and productivity and create shared value simultaneously for shareholders and for the society. We need to encourage entrepreneurship, develop skills and empower the youth so that they are able to engage themselves meaningfully.

Companies and recruiters speak of a skill gap that they encounter when they hire entry-level people. How can this gap be addressed?

We need to have strong induction and trainee programmes when we hire entry-level people. The education system in India doesn’t necessarily impart the skills that are required in a corporate set-up. At the same time, we have a huge reservoir of young talent with solid potential available in the country. It’s a question of how we leverage the inherent capabilities and potential of this young talent once they join in. This is where the initial training through customized trainee programmes fits in to ensure that the young talent receives adequate functional and behavioural inputs early in his or her career for alignment with corporate needs.

What are the three things you look for in a young person you are considering for a position?

In addition to sound qualifications, broad-based general interests and willingness to learn, we specifically look for interpersonal sensitivity, results focus and ability to take initiatives proactively.

Most young people have, over the past decade-and-a-half, gravitated towards jobs in the services sector. Do you see that changing?

People gravitate towards areas where the opportunities are available or visible. The service sector has grown much faster in recent years, but the other sectors including manufacturing and agriculture itself have tremendous potential for the future. The government is also sending out signals that they want these sectors to grow faster and is emphasizing better transport infrastructure, improved connectivity, and more planned development outside of the current urban concentrations. As these start taking shape there will be better opportunities closer to home and the people will not have to gravitate to urban and service sector jobs, as they are doing now.

What is the one piece of advice you’d like to give young people?

Build on your capabilities consistently and stay focused on creating value.

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Published: 06 Nov 2014, 02:05 PM IST
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