At Sai University’s convocation in Chennai, N Chandrasekaran urged graduates to embrace setbacks and AI-led change. His message underlined lifelong learning and self-driven progress as India enters a high-growth phase.
Tata Sons Chairman N Chandrasekaran on Saturday told graduating students that they should not be discouraged by setbacks, but treat failures as chances to work harder and set bold goals as they enter the professional world.
Speaking as the chief guest at the third convocation of Sai University in Chennai, he said artificial intelligence and rapid technological change are reshaping the global economy, even as India is entering a phase of growth that could prove “unparalleled” in its history and across the world for decades to come.
Focusing on personal progress and dealing with adversity, Chandrasekaran said, “Prepare continuously for the careers and not be deterred by setbacks. You have got to measure yourself on progress, continuous improvement, push yourself towards what you want to do. View pressure as a privilege rather than being deterred by high-stakes environments or complex problem-solving.”
His remarks came days after the Tata Sons board, at its September 17 meeting, voted to give him a fresh five-year term. However, Tata Trusts chairman Noel Tata voted against his reappointment.
He urged the graduating class to run “dual races” by balancing short-term achievements that build momentum with long-term career goals. He also said formal education should not be seen as a one-time achievement and stressed the need for lifelong upskilling in a fast-changing job market. “If you are not keeping pace, you will get outdated,” Chandrasekaran said.
“The world is full to the brim with possibilities. Five years from now, there will be industries that do not exist today, and we may not even know their terminology today,” he added.
On the use of AI in careers, Chandrasekaran said professionals should use such tools for administrative work, complex data processing and routine operations, so they can spend more time on strategic thinking.
“Creativity in business is at a premium,” he said, adding that graduates should position themselves as “early adopters” in emerging AI-driven areas instead of resisting technological change.
Drawing from his experience as a marathon runner, he told students to judge themselves by their own progress rather than by others. Quoting marathoner Juma Ikangaa, he said, “the will to win means nothing without the will to prepare.”
He said fear of failure holds back progress, and added that every failure is a step forward while every success builds confidence. “You must run your own race. Everyone has their own journey, skills, strengths, weaknesses and targets. Don’t get distracted by others, as they may have different goals. Measure yourself against yourself, towards what you want to achieve,” he said.