The story of great businesses in the history of world has not been written by wealth but by innovation, enterprising attitude, skill and an ability to see beyond the present. And Shashi Ruia, Chairman, Essar Group=, probably is one such individual, who has written his own history by dint of his courage and never-say-die attitude. It's no wonder that the Essar Groups under the leadership of Shashi and his brother Ravi Ruia who is a Vice-Chairman of the company, was ranked 37th in the list of billionaires in the country.

Founded over three decades ago, the Essar Group under the stewardship of Ruia has an eminent presence in various segments including oil and gas, construction and shipping and telecom sector. Quick to realise the emerging opportunities in telecom, Ruia was prompt to rope in Hutchison Whampoa as the joint venture partner. Today the Hutchison-Essar combine provides cellular services in 11 circles including four metros with a market share of over 20 per cent. Known for his enterprising nature, Ruia, who is now in his 60s, after completing his formal education commenced his career in the family business under the guidance of his father, the late Nand Kishore Ruia, way back in 1969.

Collecting jewels of wisdom all along his professional carrier, which spans in decades, Ruia worked in almost all sectors of business. In fact, Ruia has not only masterminded the group's business strategy but has also consolidated a whole range of activities through backward and forward integration. And the reach of the Group can be gauged from the fact that Essar Steel Ltd, the flagship company of the Group, encompassed businesses in the area of ports, harbours, submarine, oil and gas pipelines and installations, modifications and maintenance of offshore oil field platforms, super deep land drilling rigs and submarine gas pipeline.

The Group, under the watchful eyes of Ruia has been able to utilise the synergy and propel its growth into a large business conglomerate. In fact, after the successful completion of its multi-crore construction project of Sardar Sarovar Nigam Ltd (SSNL), Essar is now working on a project for the state government-owned Gujarat State Petroleum Corporation Limited (GSPCL) for its gas pipeline project. And with Ruia as the guiding star, even scaling sky will not be a difficult feat for the Essar.