Shantanu Naidu Video: Shantanu Naidu Reveals Ratan Tata's Two Qualities That Can “Make You Like Him”. Watch video

Ratan Tata's millennial manager Shantanu Naidu has revealed two qualities of a seasoned business tycoon and a national icon that he is trying to emulate. The 30-year-old software engineer and general manager in the office of former Tata Group chairman Ratan Tata, in a candid interview, spoke about two qualities of Ratan Tata that can help people become like the industrialist.

In an old video with Mindsetter, Shantanu Naidu says, “One thing is, when you do acts of kindness, you should do it for people who can't do anything for you. He will always be seen doing things for people who can't do anything.” For the one who cannot reciprocate in some way, shape or form, there should be no expectation of anything in return.

“And the second thing, in my opinion, would be the gravity of promises. A very important thing about Mr Tata is to keep his word or promise. If circumstances change to keep a particular promise, he will always keep it because he gave his word,” he said.

Naidu, who bonded with Ratan Tata over their shared love for dogs, further added that he tries to follow these lessons but it is very “challenging”. “But it’s so easy for him because he’s done these exercises his whole life,” he said.READ ALSO: When Shantanu Naidu spent his 'half salary' to impress Ratan Tata

Friendship between Shantanu Naidu and Ratan Tata

Shantanu Naidu, in his 2021 memoir “I Came Upon a Lighthouse: A Short Memoir of Life with Ratan Tata,” described how he, a young software employee in Pune, became one of Ratan Tata's closest friends. The two bonded over their mutual love and care for dogs and it was a letter from Shantanu Naidu to Ratan Tata that led to their first meeting.

The memoir also shows how, during the time they spent together, Naidu tried to emulate Ratan Tata and adopt some of his best qualities. In his memoirs, Naidu also admitted to spending half his monthly salary to buy a shit from luxury brand Brooks Brothers when Ratan Tata invited him for dinner. He specially bought a shirt from Brooks Brothers, a brand favored by Ratan Tata, one that Tata had worn in their previous meetings.

READ ALSO: Shantanu Naidu's heartfelt post on 'Lighthouse' Ratan Tata's death: 'Will spend the rest of my life…'

Hours after news of Ratan Tata's death broke, Shantanu Naidu, an MBA from Cornell University and founder of the Goodfellows startup, wrote in a post on LinkedIn: “The void this friendship has left in me now, I will for the rest “Grief is the price I have to pay for love.

Shantanu Naidu and Ratan Tata became friends after Naidu wrote to the business icon that he wanted to fund his start-up and Tata invited him to Mumbai to work together. Naidu became Ratan Tata's assistant and the youngest manager at Tata Trust. Naidu also helped set up Ratan Tata's Instagram account.