Shortlisted Entrepreneurs Are Provided Support With Marico’s Distribution System $ E-commerce, Target Is To Distribute 20 Lakh Masks: Harsh Mariwala, Chairman, Marico

Harsh Mariwala, Chairman, Marico in a recent BW Dialogue on Leadership has informed how the Marico Innovation Foundation had set up a challenge for Indian entrepreneurs to create the best quality of two segments: a) PPE and Masks 2) Ventilators and Respirators of products. He shared that the shortlisted entrepreneurs ‘are using the Marico’s distribution system to distribute those masks all over India. And, our target is to distribute 20 lakh masks as well helping them with e-commerce.’ 

Speaking about the covid-19 pandemic's impacts, Mariwala shared, “This is something none of us had anticipated. So, I think there has been a huge set of learning.” His observations were that whichever trend was already on the way, the pandemic has accelerated the trend. “This has led to a high degree of acceleration.” Mariwala says the whole digital journey too were hugely accelerated – whether it was e-learning, e-meetings, e-consultations, e-prescriptions, or e-commerce. 

Adding to the other impacts pandemic, Mariwala shared, “The leadership requirements for covid has changed dramatically. Ultimately, it boils down to exhibiting a leadership style that is authentic, caring, which has a lot of empathy, which proactively resolves anxiety and stress. The need to communicate is very very high.” He added, “There is a need to not only take care of their own members and also their families. Communicate to their teams that this too shall pass.”  

Discussing how the Marico's business has impacted during the pandemic, Mariwala added, "Luckily for us, in what we call the ‘essentials’ – now I was told there is a new category which is called super-essentials, like edible oils, fruits, etc., we have launched a lot of products which are in the super-essentials category.” Further, he added, Undeniably, with people at homes, there is a higher consumption of cooking oils and ready-to-eat food, Marico’s business with respect to this category should have done well. Mariwala agrees: “I mean we are very fortunate that our core business are in good shape.” He also informed, “Separately, I have another business, which is much small, Kaya skincare business, which has not done well because of the risk of contracting covid but now it is picking up.”  

On what lies ahead, Mariwala shared, “I think the fact is this uncertainty is likely to continue for some time. There will be, all of a sudden, things will improve, there will be a need for extra people coming in. If things don’t improve, there will be a need to ensure that we improve our cost structures.”