“Don't pay heed to the vanity or the ego of being an owner. Think of yourself as a manager. The moment you do that, you'll be alright... Work hard to earn yourself both position and respect,” a quote by Sanjiv Goenka, Founder and Chairman of the RPSG Group.

Goenka highlights that true leadership requires humility, hard work, and treating yourself as accountable to the business rather than entitled to it.

Who is Sanjiv Goenka

Sanjiv Goenka is a prominent Indian billionaire businessman, investor, and the Founder and Chairman of the RP-Sanjiv Goenka Group (RPSG Group). Headquartered in Kolkata, West Bengal, his multinational conglomerate is valued at roughly $10 billion and spans sectors including power, retail, FMCG, IT, media, and sports.

He consistently ranks among the top 100 richest individuals in India, with an estimated net worth hovering around $3.5 billion to $4.9 billion.

He serves as the Chairman of the Board of Governors for the Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur (IIT-KGP) and International Management Institute (IMI). He was the youngest-ever President of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) and a former head of the All India Management Association (AIMA).

He has been awarded the Banga Bibhushan (West Bengal's highest civilian award) and AIMA's Business Leader of the Year.

When was this quote said by Sanjiv Goenka    

Sanjiv Goenka said this in an interview on March 3. The complete advice from him read as "To believe in oneself; to pursue one's dream passionately; to stay transparent. Don't pay heed to the vanity or the ego of being an owner. Think of yourself as a manager. The moment you do that, you'll be alright... Work hard to earn yourself both position and respect."

What does this quote mean?

Goenka explains that managers are judged by performance, metrics, and how they treat people. By adopting a manager’s mindset, an owner stays disciplined, answers to the business's needs, and avoids complacency.

A title can be given or bought, but respect must be earned through daily effort. True authority comes from your work ethic and how you support your team, not your wealth or rank, Goenka added.

Published on: May 23, 2026 7:30 AM IST