Philanthropy only when issues of 'connectivity' addressed: Kalpana Morparia, CEO, JP Morgan - 24 Feb, 2011, 10.15AM IST,ET Bureau

Philanthropy only when issues of 'connectivity' addressed: Kalpana Morparia, CEO, JP Morgan - 24 Feb, 2011, 10.15AM IST,ET Bureau

The innate strengths and accomplishments of two mercurial individuals — James ‘Jamie’ Dimon, chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase & Co and Sunil Mittal, chairman and Group CEO of Bharti Enterprises — helped Kalpana Morparia take two critical decisions in the past few years. Decisions that have changed her life, qualitatively.

The first one is professional, relating to her job and career, and the other, something deeply personal, a promise she made her mother, before she died four years ago. Instead of fading away into retirement, Kalpana bounced back into high finance as CEO of JP Morgan India , after three decades with ICICI Bank . ‘Leading Ladies’, a recent book on women achievers, describes her deep admiration for Jamie and his ‘commonsensical’ approach to managing. His unique, bereftof-social-graces style, perhaps propelled her to take the new assignment.

The high priest of finance once made a cold customer call to Kalpana, soliciting business, when she was raising $5 billion for ICICI. As with Jamie, a couple of months ago, Kalpana placed her trust in Sunil Mittal. She wrote out a cheque for 1.5 crore of her own money to the Bharti Foundation to support the construction and running of a school near Rewari in Haryana. “The scale impressed me, and the rural reach,” says Kalpana. “And Mittal’s approach to scaling is known and proven.” The Foundation already covers over 30,000 students and hopes to reach 200,000.

Kalpana’s mother, who barely studied up to class V, but who valued education and the need for women to be independent, wanted her daughter to do something for the girl child, for education. Consequently, Kalpana tried her hand with the usual scholarships regimen and also supported SOS Children’s Village. She had also done her charity bit, like many celebrities and high net-worth individuals; running the Mumbai marathon, raising money for several causes, but a sense of satisfaction , or fulfillment eluded her.

The ephemeral nature of her giving dismayed her and the promise she made ‘kept ringing’ in her mind. Kalpana sought something sustaining, more permanent, till she came across an article on Satya Bharti schools of the Bharti Foundation in The Economic Times. She was so excited she didn’t even consult her friend and former colleague Nachiket Mor who often advised her on such issues. She immediately made her way to Delhi and onwards to Rewari to see for herself how the Satya Bharti schools were run.

“I even sat in a maths class,” she says, and was bowled over by the teaching methods adopted by the school. “The emphasis is on intuitive learning.” She knew she had found what she wanted when she finally sat down with the children to partake the mid-day meal of rotis, vegetables, and protein-rich chawli. “The Foundation even consults nutritionists,” she says. Kalpana’s first brush with substantive philanthropy has apparently given her a new high.

“I want to do more,” she whispers, without revealing her giving plans for the future. Kalpana is certain that India is perched at the threshold of big-ticket giving and that many in her mould will take to philanthropy once issues of ‘connectivity’ are addressed. There is a deep gulf between those who want to give and causes starved of resources. The need for mechanisms, platforms, that enable high net- worth individuals to participate in, touch, feel, and savour the wondrous experience of giving is critical. Cheque writing is passe. Giving the whole self to a cause — money, time, expertise — that fosters a sense of comity is what matters.

Philosophy

The newcomer to high-impact giving has embarked on a long journey. She believes more people will begin to emulate the new role models — Azim Premji , Sunil Mittal and Shiv Nadar.

Inspiration

James ‘Jamie’ Dimon, chairman and CEO of JP Morgan Chase & Co, and Sunil Mittal, chairman and Group CEO of Bharti Enterprises.

The Trigger

A promise to her mother, to do something for the education of girls, and an article in ET on Satya Bharti schools of the Bharti Foundation.

The Work

Wrote out a cheque for 1.5 crore to the Bharti Foundation to support the construction and running of a school near Rewari in Haryana.

Refer: http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/et-cetera/philanthropy-only-when-issues-of-connectivity-addressed-kalpana-morparia-ceo-jp-morgan/articleshow/7560766.cms