Missing an exam turned out to be a blessing for Nandan Nilekani. He skipped his IIM entrance exam because he “was not feeling well” that day. He also admitted he was too lazy to apply for the SAT or GMAT.
After graduation from IIT Bombay, Nilekani found himself unsure of what to do. He learned about a small tech company in Mumbai called Patni Computer Systems, which ran online computers—a rare setup in India at the time. He joined the firm, solved a challenge, and met NR Narayana Murthy, his future partner.
That meeting led to the founding of Infosys in 1981. Nilekani credited Murthy’s vision for starting the company, saying he joined Murthy and the team to make it happen. Under Nilekani’s leadership, Infosys grew rapidly, especially during his tenure as CEO from 2002 to 2007, when sales increased sixfold to around $3 billion.
He focused on ambitious goals, aiming for large-scale growth. Later, Nilekani served as Chairman of UIDAI from 2009 to 2014. Reflecting on his missed exam, he said, “A mistake I’m glad I made,” as it allowed him to take a path that led to huge success.
