No Airs Apparent

Aryaman Birla’s grassroots experiences as a professional cricketer shaped his thought processes and have made him the inclusive, democratic superboss he is today

Two things strike you as you watch Aryaman Vikram Birla go through the paces of his first magazine cover shoot. One: he is oblivious of the eyes on him, possibly because of his time as a state level cricketer. And two: he has the affability (and smile) of a film star!

The 24-year-old son of Neerja and Kumar Mangalam Birla smiles whenever he spots someone new. We are at Jolie’s, Mumbai’s hip new members-only club, and Aryaman seems to know most staffers by name.

Has he always been this easygoing? And does he realise that many people look at him as their superboss-to-be?

“I’m certainly very inclusive at work. Each person I work with is important to what we do and to me. I’m also very democratic, so I like to get everyone’s opinion, then take an informed decision. I find that sometimes, it’s important to go out of your way and make

HT Brunch

{ ARYAMAN BIRLA } ENTREPRENEUR

“I’ve learned about setting ambition and being patient with your ambition. It’s very easy to not be ambitious, or if you are, to be too impatient.”