AsiaOne Magazine India have been at the forefront of highlighting individuals who have made a difference through their contribution to society, business successes and innovative ideas. These individuals are also looked upon by other leaders as their source of guidance and inspiration. AsiaOne is therefore proud to award our Person of the Year for 2020-21, to Dr. Vinod Sekhar.

This award is an acknowledgement of Dr. Vinod’s dedication to social capitalism (for-profit enterprise in which wealth creation and social good are motivators). Dr. Vinod’s motivation has remained the same ever since he first started out in business over 30 years ago– always exploring how he could change people’s lives, impact communities in a positive way and actually make a difference to communities at the tail end of the socio-economic paradigm. He has remained consistent in his philosophy through his 3 decades in business and philanthropy where the emphasis on being successful in business, carries the same importance as lifting the less fortunate out of poverty. His vision has been instilled within all the companies under the PETRA Group, where all the business pillars must in one way or another, contribute towards wealth creation and bettering lives.

“As a Malaysian, I’m very proud and touched to receive this accolade. However, I’d like to say it’s an award I accept on behalf of the entire PETRA wow I've never mind Group, as it comes on the back of having a amazing team at my side. What I most appreciate is being given the opportunity to put a spotlight on the initiatives and values that matter most to me, and hopefully share my thoughts with a larger audience in India and across Asia. I look forward to the growth of our existing businesses in India, including modular homes, rail, green rubber and the vanilla project. I look forward to expanding social capitalism in India through the Vinod Sekhar Foundation and projects in India” said Dr. Vinod.

Vinod who has championed “Social Capitalism” since his student days adds, “Social Capitalism is about lifting people out of poverty and creating a bigger middle class, people who will be able to afford products and services created by businesses. It supports healthier, more sustainable economies and ultimately builds better nations. It would be amazing if everyone could do something, however small, to help uplift the communities that we are in.”

This award also pays tribute to the excellent work of the Sekhar Foundation which now impacts the lives over 15,000 individuals worldwide each year through initiatives that emphasizes on better education programs, job creation and an all-round better quality of life.

Leaders who have made the most impact in a year, and consequently have made strides in community development, are nominated as Person of the Year. The list of nominees is painstakingly created after months of intense research and validation processes by our research and editorial team.