Preetha Reddy, 52, MD, Apollo Hospitals Group

Preetha Reddy, the eldest of the Reddy daughters, who stands to inherit the chairmanship of the Apollo Hospitals Group from founder Prathap C. Reddy, has been voted by her siblings of being eminently capable of executing their father's "vision . Preetha has her feet firmly planted on the ground she believes in doing daily rounds of the Chennai hospital where she is based, and relying on instinct as much as active preparation in making business decisions. Few know that she has an eye for symmetry, perfection and painstaking detail and that events or hospitals planned under her supervision seldom face hiccups. Likewise, her ability to "take things as they flow ensures a calm demeanour, something that augurs well in a hospital that is constantly charged.

Once again in the BT Power List. Does it still enthuse you?
The BT Power List is certainly an appreciation, motivating me to work harder, to reach out and touch more lives.

Your definition of power has it changed over the years?
Power is the ability to make a difference in people's lives. Being a part of a group that has taken giant strides in healthcare in our country, I have been able to touch many lives.

New lessons learnt in 2009.
The recent economic slowdown has reiterated the value of prudence, reminding us to be more watchful of our expenses. Another important lesson has been in leveraging collaboration rather than worrying about competition. The case for collaboration extends to softer areas such as sharing of research, innovations and best practices.

What next?
A concerted effort to reach out and take healthcare to a billion lives. - Nitya Varadarajan

Resource: Business Today