Visionaries who make space for others forge a path for the next generation of leaders. Anupam ‘Tino’ Puri, founding partner of McKinsey’s India practice, cemented McKinsey’s footprint in the region and made it his mission to give back to the broader community. Puri led the charge in staffing, attracting unrivaled talent, and upholding a standard of excellence that led to steady growth. During his 30-year tenure, Puri oversaw offices in various regions and served as a mentor to many. McKinsey Senior Partner Ramesh Srinivasan recalls the space that Puri chose to create for him in the early days of his career and the lasting impact of Puri’s leadership lessons, including prioritizing client interests. “Now when I walk into a client meeting, I think about questions I want to ask about the clients more than what I want to share,” said Srinivasan.
James Leprino, founder and chairman of Leprino Foods, also knew something about letting others take the spotlight. Leprino turned his family’s neighborhood grocery into a cheese-making empire, becoming a billionaire in the process. While leading with ethics and quiet determination, he maintained a close relationship with his partners and factory workers, whom he knew by name. In the wake of the September 11 attacks, Razia Jan, owner of a dry cleaning business in New England, returned to her native Afghanistan to help young girls reach their potential. She opened a school, a haven for nurturing and protecting her young charges—and even sampled their water for toxins. Jan imagined that “to plant even a little education in a girl’s mind was to sow a seed that would flower.”
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