On Tuesday, the 24th of August 2021, the students of Mushtifund Aryaan Higher Secondary School got the unique opportunity to meet Mr. Dean Menezes, Chairman of the CMM group.Mr. Menezes recollected and shared his experiences over decades of running and growing his family business.
What I found especially interesting in this session was the diverse set of businesses Mr. Menezes’ organization is involved in, ranging from medical bandages and wound care to a chain of appliance stores and even a homework app! He told us that for a family business to be continuously successful across generations, the most important factor is being different, setting higher benchmarks, and breaking the norm instead of settling into complacency.
Mr. Menezes covered the necessity of integrity and ethics in business practices in today’s day and age, when individual freedoms and rights are being impinged on and profiteered off by large corporations. He spoke about the necessity to de-monopolize industry and promote the growth of small businesses by eliminating anti competitive practices. He rightly stated that human beings are inherently flawed, but in the pursuit of self-improvement and the collective advancement of this world, we must acknowledge our weaknesses and work to overcome them.
Mr. Menezes gave us a valuable insight into the emerging sectors in India’s economy, and mentioned some potentially lucrative career options in the future. He mentioned the need for adaptation and flexibility to survive. To paraphrase Heraclitus, in this volatile universe, change is the only constant, and it is only through utilizing Biology’s gift of adaptation that we can thrive in this ever-changing world. I would like to thank Mr. Menezes for giving us critical exposure to the field of business and sharing his decades’ worth of experience with us. I’d also like to thank the Director for giving us the opportunity to interact with him.
-Yuri Naidu
Class XI