Azim Premji

Azim Premji – Life, Career, and Famous Quotes

Dive into the extraordinary journey of Azim Premji—Indian business magnate, philanthropist, and ethical leader. Learn about his life, business evolution of Wipro, his philanthropic philosophy, and his inspiring quotes.

Introduction

Azim Hashim Premji (born July 24, 1945) is an Indian industrialist, investor, and one of the world’s most generous philanthropists. He built Wipro into a global IT powerhouse, while maintaining a reputation for integrity, humility, and purpose-driven leadership. Over time, he has committed much of his wealth to improving education and public welfare in India. His life stands as an example of how business success and social responsibility can go hand in hand.

Early Life and Family

Azim Premji was born in Bombay (now Mumbai), in what was then British India.

From his early years, Premji was exposed to business and responsibility. He enrolled in engineering studies at Stanford University.

He is married to Yasmeen Premji, and they have two children, Rishad and Tariq Premji. Rishad Premji succeeded him as Chairman of Wipro in 2019.

Education & Shift to Business Leadership

While Premji began his studies in electrical engineering at Stanford, he did not complete them due to the family circumstances in 1966. Western India Vegetable Products Ltd., originally a business producing cooking oil and consumer goods.

Under his stewardship, the company evolved: shifting focus from vegetable oils and consumer goods to high technology and information services.

Career and Achievements

Transformation of Wipro

Premji’s major contribution lies in transforming Wipro (the name derived from his father’s original company) into a global IT services leader.

Some key aspects:

• He diversified operations well beyond oils, soaps and consumer goods into technology, software, consulting, and IT services.

• Under his leadership, Wipro grew from modest beginnings to become one of India’s major IT outsourcing and services firms.

• In 2019, he stepped down as executive chairman and handed over day-to-day leadership to his son, Rishad.

• Even after stepping down, he remains as a nonexecutive board member and guiding influence.

Premji earned many honors: he was awarded the Padma Vibhushan (India’s second highest civilian award) in 2011. Time’s 100 Most Influential People (in 2004 and 2011) and has been recognized globally for his business and philanthropic work.

Philanthropy & Social Impact

A defining dimension of Premji’s legacy is his commitment to giving back.

• In 2001, he founded the Azim Premji Foundation, focused largely on improving public education in India—especially in rural and underserved areas.

• Over time, he pledged massive transfers of Wipro shares to trust this foundation, making it one of the largest philanthropic endowments in India.

• In 2013, he became the first Indian to sign The Giving Pledge, committing to donate the large majority of his wealth.

• By 2019, his lifetime giving was estimated to be around USD 21 billion.

• During the COVID-19 pandemic, the foundation and Wipro committed substantial sums (in Indian rupees) to relief, health infrastructure, and community support efforts.

Through his philanthropy, Premji emphasizes trusteeship—he often speaks about wealth as not belonging to an individual but as something held in trust for society.

Historical & Business Context

Azim Premji’s rise occurred during a time of postcolonial India’s economic evolution, liberalization of the Indian economy (after 1991), and global expansion of information technology services. Wipro’s growth capitalized on both domestic opportunity and the global outsourcing wave. His leadership and foresight helped position India as a major player in global IT.

In Indian society, where inequality, educational gaps, and resource constraints are widespread, Premji’s decision to direct vast philanthropic capital to education has had structural implications—reshaping how civil society, government, and private sector interact in delivering public goods. His example also challenges stereotypes of purely profit-driven capitalists: he exemplifies how wealth can accompany (and even require) ethical responsibility.

Personality, Leadership Style & Philosophy

Premji is widely regarded as humble, principled, and understated. Despite enormous wealth, he has maintained a lifestyle and public image marked by simplicity, frugality, and restraint.

He emphasizes values such as integrity, honesty, and respect for human dignity in business.

Premji’s philosophy sees wealth and success as instruments—not ends. He often speaks of wealth as a trust, and of business as a way to enable greater public good.

He also stresses patience and long-term thinking: philanthropy and educational change are slow processes, not instant fixes.

Famous Quotes of Azim Premji

Here are several memorable quotations attributed to Premji, which reflect his worldview:

“Success is achieved twice. Once in the mind and the second time in the real world.” “If people are not laughing at your goals, your goals are too small.” “Leadership is the self-confidence of working with people smarter than you.” “In our way of working, we attach a great deal of importance to humility and honesty; with respect for human values, we promise to serve our customers with integrity.” “You cannot get into business for the fashion of it.” “I think that any wealth creates a sense of trusteeship.” “We give people major responsibilities even if they are only 60 percent ready. … people are pretty elastic when you give them responsibility, and they just grow rapidly with the job.” “The important thing about a problem is not its existence, but how we tackle it.”

These quotes illustrate his beliefs in humility, capacity building, ethical business, and responsibility.

Lessons from Azim Premji

1. Wealth means responsibility. Premji’s life teaches that accumulating wealth (or power) brings an obligation to use it for collective good.

2. Lead quietly, lead well. His style contrasts with flamboyant leadership—he shows that consistent, principled, understated leadership can produce impact.

3. Invest in people. He emphasizes that giving responsibilities, investing in talent, and trusting others are as critical as strategy and capital.

4. Think long-term. Meaningful educational and social change unfolds over decades; patience and sustained commitment are essential.

5. Business and social mission can align. Premji bridges profit and purpose, proving that enterprises can be engines for development, not just extraction.

Conclusion

Azim Premji is more than a business magnate—he is a leader who redefined how success is measured. He transformed Wipro from a small family enterprise into a global technology leader, while remaining deeply anchored in values of integrity, modesty, and service. Through his philanthropy, particularly in education, he has sought to uplift millions and build institutional capacity in India’s public sector.

His memorable quotes offer guiding principles for entrepreneurs, leaders, and changemakers. If you like, I can prepare a timeline of Azim Premji’s milestones, a Spanish or Hindi version, or a deeper dive into the Azim Premji Foundation’s impact. Which would you like next?