Nandan Nilekani: 'I would have jumped off a cliff if Narayana Murthy had asked'

In a candid conversation with LinkedIn CEO Ryan Roslansky, Nandan Nilekani, co-founder and chairman of Infosys, recounted a pivotal moment that shaped his illustrious career—a job interview with Narayana Murthy in 1978. What seemed like an ordinary meeting at the time became the starting point of a journey that led to the founding of Infosys on July 2, 1981.

Fresh out of IIT Bombay with a degree in electrical engineering, Nilekani recalls this experience as a turning point. Reflecting on his unexpected rise in the corporate world, he humorously described himself as an “accidental entrepreneur.”

The interview was for a role at Patni Computer Systems in Pune, where Murthy was then the head of software. Attracted by the prospect of working in the emerging field of mini-computers, Nilekani saw the opportunity as exciting and transformative.

“He asked me some problem-solving questions,” Nilekani said of the interview. “Luckily, I managed to answer them correctly, and he offered me a job.”

This marked the beginning of Nilekani's professional relationship with Murthy, which he describes with admiration. “He was ambitious and set lofty goals,” Nilekani recalled. “I was willing to do anything for him. If he had asked me to jump off a cliff, I would have done it. Working with him was an incredible experience.”

Despite becoming a key figure in building Infosys into a global IT leader, Nilekani revealed that his initial motivation was not driven by the ambition to create a tech powerhouse. Instead, it was his innate curiosity that propelled him forward.

“Every morning, I wake up eager to learn something new,” he shared. Looking ahead, Nilekani emphasized the importance of human qualities in shaping the future. “The world will revolve around uniquely human traits: empathy, compassion, and the ability to connect the dots.”

From a single interview to co-founding one of India’s most iconic companies, Nilekani’s journey highlights the transformative power of mentorship, curiosity, and the courage to embrace new opportunities.