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The King of Good Times: The Early Years of Vijay Mallya

In his home country of India, he can hardly even go out to a restaurant without police and armed guards by his side, but Vijay Mallya is enjoying every minute of his fame and fortune. A billionaire businessman who is best associated with his popular beer brand Kingfisher, Mallya was thrust into the business world at the young age of 27. Today, he is active in everything from the alcohol and airline industry to Formula One, not to mention he is a Member of Indian Parliament.

Taking Over The Business Of Beer: Vijay Mallya Expands His Empire

After his father’s death in 1984, Mallya took over as Chairman of the United Breweries Group and immediately set to work streamlining operations. What was once an umbrella corporation of 20 businesses, Mallya took down to six, focusing on those areas he knew best.

Lesson #1: It is having confidence that matters the most

When Mallya was invited to be the guest speaker at the Institute of Management and Technology’s convocation in March 2010, he wanted to impress upon the students one key message to the secrets of success: self-confidence is the key.

Lesson #2: Grab the opportunity whenever you can

“When we launched Kingfisher [Airlines], we had certain very clear-cut parameters, brand-new planes, commonality, fuel bases between fuel efficiency and controlled costs, and then of course we did a huge market research on the name, the brand, the consumer expectations,” recalls Mallya. And yet, despite all of his hard work, the company is struggling to turn a profit. So why does he continue to put so much into it?

Lesson #3: Make a solid brand your company’s backbone

Mallya might like to joke that he is “The King of Good Times,” but it is no joke at all. That slogan, and Mallya himself, represent billions of dollars to the UB group. “I am the brand ambassador,” he says.

Lesson #4: Go for the biggest challenge you can

“United Spirits, with all its brands…with a huge market share, was addressing the opportunities in India going forward,” says Mallya. “But focusing on the Indian consumer and growing aspirations, it was extremely clear to me that one day the youngsters would start demanding scotch whiskey.”

Lesson #5: Be determined to prove people wrong

Mallya never wanted to go into business. He wanted to be a doctor and follow in his grandfather’s footsteps. But when his father put his foot down and insisted he follow in his own footsteps and take over the family business, Mallya was left with little choice.

The Indian Richard Branson: How one fun loving businessman broke the mould

Head to India and you will no doubt hear about a man named Vijay Mallya. At 50 years old, he is one of the most famous personalities in the country, with his life being splashed across tabloids on a daily basis. He has built Kingfisher into one of the country’s most profitable and well-known brands, and his hands are in everything from beer to airlines to hospitals and schools. How did this one time doctor wanna-be become a billionaire tycoon?

Vijay Mallya Quotes

Vijay Mallya Quotes

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