Who is Shantanu Naidu, who became good friend of Ratan Tata, late businessman used to take his advice in every decision, he is from…
Business tycoon and national icon Ratan Naval Tata passed away on Wednesday, October 9, at the age of 86, leaving the nation in mourning. Among those deeply affected by his loss was Shantanu Naidu, Tata’s protege and the youngest general manager at the Tata Group. In a heartfelt tribute on LinkedIn, the 31-year-old expressed his grief, bidding farewell to his mentor, whom he affectionately called his “lighthouse.” Naidu wrote, “The hole that this friendship has now left with me, I will spend the rest of my life trying to fill. Grief is the price we pay for love. Goodbye, my dear lighthouse.”
Shantanu Naidu developed an extraordinary bond with the late Ratan Tata, a relationship that went far beyond the usual mentor-protege dynamic. Despite the significant age gap, their connection blended the perspectives of a millennial and a boomer.
How did Shantanu Naidu and Ratan Tata meet?
Naidu and Tata first met in 2014 when Naidu began working for the Tata Group. Their mutual love for dogs helped foster a close bond between the two, leading to a deep friendship over the years.
As a fifth-generation Tata employee, Shantanu initially set out on a mission to design glow-in-the-dark collars for stray dogs to protect them from traffic accidents. His project, Motopaws, needed financial backing, so he wrote to Ratan Tata, hoping for support. To his surprise, Tata personally responded within two months, inviting him to Mumbai. Their shared love for animals created an instant connection, and Tata helped Shantanu launch Motopaws, which turned into a successful venture.
Beyond Motopaws, Shantanu also founded Good Fellows, a startup dedicated to bridging generational gaps by connecting young companions with elderly individuals. His motivation stemmed from a deep affection for older generations, as he fondly reflected, “I’ve always felt a deep fondness for older generations. Many of my closest friends have silver hair and hearts of gold.”
Even though Shantanu left for the U.S. to pursue an MBA, his bond with Tata remained strong. True to his promise, after completing his degree, he returned to work as Tata’s assistant, becoming the youngest general manager in Tata Trust’s history. Ratan Tata’s presence at Shantanu’s graduation ceremony symbolized their close relationship.
Shantanu Naidu’s education qualification
Shantanu Naidu holds a Bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Savitribai Phule Pune University, which he completed in 2014. After establishing himself as an innovative leader with his project Motopaws and his connection with Ratan Tata, Shantanu pursued further studies at the prestigious Cornell Johnson Graduate School of Management, where he earned an MBA.
During his time at Cornell, he stood out in several leadership roles and was recognized for his achievements, including receiving the Hemmeter Entrepreneurship Award and winning the Johnson Leadership Case Competition.