What UBP means to me!!

My first memory of UB Pravin is when my ex-manager Puru took me to building 15-16 in the Infosys Bangalore campus in 2011 where his cabin was based. Out walked a gentleman to greet us in, shook our hands and made even me feel; as though he knew me from before. He was kind, gentle, soft spoken and had a smile on his face throughout. That is the image of UBP (as we fondly call him) that has stayed with me forever, as UBP never changed since that meeting 10 years back for me.

As we come together as Infosys to bid him a farewell; as he retires 36 years after he joined Infosys, I felt like reflecting on what UBP the person, UBP the brand and UBP the era means to me!

1. Importance of Value Systems: One often wonders why value systems matter. Infosys is a prime example. For a company that was started by our founders, transition to a non founder set up cannot be easy. In such scenarios, it is the value system that captures what the company was built and based on. UBP being a non founder exemplifies CLIFE; Infosys' value system. Customer Centricity, Leadership, Integrity, Fairness, Excellence is what CLIFE stands for and it is these values and principles that binds UBP to our founders. He exemplifies each of these which make the transition from a founder to a non founder appear seamless. For those of us who interacted with him or know him; I am sure we could narrate countless examples of when UBP demonstrated and excelled in each of these 5 values again and again!
2. Importance of Humility: For a 260k strong organisation, management layers are obvious (in fact many layers if I may add). It was a well known fact that an email sent to NRN would always get a response. The same hold true for UBP as well. It does not matter who sends the email, it does not matter what level he/she comes from, it does not matter what the context or subject is, UBP is always responsive and available. In meetings too, UBP would greet every single individual with a smile. It did not matter who they were NOR; did it matter that UBP was the 2nd in command of a $15B and a 260k strong company!
3. Importance of a fine balance of organisation needs and personal relations in leadership: My boss Mohit always tells us that once we become title holders, we have to think first about the company and then about ourselves. UBP brilliantly exemplifies that. In any transaction, he always balances the company interest and personal interest well. Just because one knows him or does NOT know him, makes little or no difference to his decision. If it is right for the company; he would be OK else NOT.
4. Importance of continuous Innovation: In my engineering days, I learnt about CMMI Level 5 where Level 5 stood for continuous innovation. But what is Innovation? Is it only about giving new ideas to clients on how we can help them? In my view, innovation is actually a mindset irrespective of what we do and UBP always demonstrated that. It did not matter what idea was shared with him, whether client related or internal, or who shared the idea. UBP would take all ideas on their merit and if the idea warranted action, UBP would get it initiated. He lived and personified continuous innovation for me.
5. Importance of registering and tracking: I observed that whenever UBP approved anything, he would cc himself on those emails. That meant that the email was not just approved with an OK and a Reply but he registered it. It would be archived and he would have trace of it. At his level, it probably does not matter to track every such email. However it tells us that a thorough professional is one who even at that level and age, can be as diligent and disciplined as he is!
6. Importance of being a human being: Above all of the above though, UBP always came across as that perfect and ideal human that we all want to become. One who is humane and available at a personal level, who cares for those around them, a professional who is driven by a set of core values who is dependable and predictable. Above all, an inspiration who demonstrates in small ways on how to lead life which is full of achievements and yet so grounded!

I am sure we all know that UBP retiring would leave us at Infosys with an irreplaceable loss. However, for someone who has given us all so much and has worked tirelessly for 36 years, this break is surely well deserved! I cannot thank him enough and only wish him the best of health and happiness!