Ratan Tata’s trusted manager Shantana Naidu has shared a career update. Taking to professional networking platform LinkedIn, Naidu shared “I’m happy to share that I’m starting a new position as General Manager, Head – Strategic Initiatives at Tata Motors!”.
He also reflected back on his family’s connection with the company. “I remember when my father used to walk home from the Tata motors plant, in his white shirt and navy pants, and I would wait for him in the window. It comes full circle now ❤️,” Naidu shared, posting a photo of himself with Tata Nano.
Take a look at Shantana Naidu’s LinkedIn post
Ratan Tata and Shantanu Naidu’s friendship journey
Naidu, a fifth-generation Tata Group employee, first met Ratan Tata in 2014. They connected over their shared love for animals when Naidu launched a project to protect stray dogs by designing glow-in-the-dark collars to prevent road accidents. Seeking funding for the initiative, Naidu reached out to Tata, who showed interest and invited him to Mumbai. This collaboration on Naidu’s project, Motopaws, sparked a lasting friendship.
Together, Naidu and Tata later founded Goodfellows, a company that connects young people with senior citizens for companionship. Naidu has a deep appreciation for older generations, saying, “many of my closest friends have silver hair and hearts of gold.” Although he briefly went to the U.S. for an MBA, he returned to keep his promise to continue working with Tata.
After his return, Naidu became Tata’s assistant and the youngest general manager at Tata Trusts. Their bond grew stronger over time, with Tata even attending Naidu’s graduation. In his book “Came Upon a Lighthouse”, Naidu fondly refers to Tata as a “Millennial Dumbledore,” highlighting the valuable life lessons he gained from their relationship.
Source Homevior.in
