In today’s world, besides China, Japan, and America, it is India that has emerged as a country experiencing fast technological development. The credit for this pace should go to all Indians who have excelled in the field of information and technology not only in the country but also overseas. We are are familiar with the roles played by Satya Nadella in Microsoft and Sundar Pichai in Google but apart from them there are many others who have earned worldwide recognition through their talent.

Shantanu Narayen is one such Indian who is presently an employee of an international company that does a turnover of more than Rs 85,000 crore. Surprisingly, we use this company’s products throughout the country but have never heard his name.

Shantanu is the CEO of Adobe Systems, the world’s leading company in the field of software. Currently, he is counted among the world’s most successful business officers. Born and raised in Hyderabad, Shantanu received his bachelor’s degree in electronics engineering from Osmania University in Hyderabad. After that, he successfully completed an MBA from the Haas School of Business in University, California and earned a Master of Science in Computer Science from Bowling Green State University in Bowling Green, Ohio.

Shantanu started his career with Apple, as is the case with most of the celebrities in the world of software and internet sector. While working with Apple for some years, he learned the tricks of business and management and co-founded a company named Pictra. Pictra pioneered the concept of digital photo sharing over the Internet.After successfully running this company for several years he had gained a strong reputation in the software industry.

Pictra’s attempt to excel through the concept of photo sharing over the internet gave Shantanu an opportunity to connect with Adobe Systems in 1998.

He joined as the senior vice president for Global Product Research and was later promoted to executive vice president of Worldwide Products. In 2007, at the age of 44, he took a big jump in his career when he was appointed as the CEO of Adobe Systems. He became the CEO of the company 10 years after joining it because of his tremendous performance.

After becoming CEO, Shantanu responded in an interview given to the BBC, “I am proud to be the leader of Adobe Systems. I will continue to work to enrich the tradition of Adobe, to be the leader in technological advancement.”

Under his leadership, Adobe went on to reach a new height of success and spread all across the globe. You will be surprised to know that Shantanu was successful to seal 350 deals for the company. In fact, big media companies like Viacom, CBS and PBS today play videos with Adobe Flash Player and none other than Shantanu is responsible for this achievement.

 

As a CEO, Shantanu used to receive a salary package of about Rs 5.5 crore per annum. In 2013, he was paid a gross wager of $15.7 million, which got him in the list of highest-paid officials of the world. He was also included in the US President Barack Obama’s suggestion committee in 2011.

Shantanu made an identity for himself on the global front with his own potential. Today, he is not only an influential person of this planet, but also an inspiration to millions of Indians to so something positive in life.