Kiran Reddy Nandigala : Exemplifying Business By Infusing Sustainability
Kiran Reddy Nandigala
Director
By adopting green technologies, reducing waste and shifting to renewable resources, chemical companies can drive progress while protecting the planet. Kiran Reddy Nandigala, the Director of Vestro Solvents, exemplifies this approach by transforming his family business into a futuristic, sustainable organization. Vestro Solvents is a leading chemicals trading company based out of Hyderabad.
Kiran is an alumnus of the prestigious FLAME University and ISB. With his specialization in environmental science and family business management, he is dedicated to implementing environmentally sustainable practices in Vestro Solvents' manufacturing processes. For instance, he replaced coal with other renewable fuels in the manufacturing process, making it a zero-liquid discharge (ZDL) company.
Going forward, Kiran aims to make Vestro Solvents a sustainable organization with everything manufactured indi- genously using 100 percent clean, renewable inputs. We are excited to have Kiran with us for an exclusive interview to delve deeper into his vision and inspiring entrepreneurial journey.
How has your stellar educational back ground contributed to your pro- fessional journey?
After completing my UG at FLAME University, Pune, with a specialization in Environmental Studies, I returned to Hyderabad to join my family business, which operates in the chemicals, petrochemicals, and pharma- ceuticals sectors, which are traditionally known for polluting the environment.
I was able to apply my learning from FLAME to our manufacturing processes, intro -ducing cleaner practices and
incorporating more renewable resources into the system.
To further strengthen my business acumen, I pursued a postgraduate degree from ISB in Family Business Management, a unique program tailored specifically for second-generation entrepreneurs, offering a fresh perspective on business leadership compared to traditional MBA programs. Today, I am passionate about building something impactful on a larger scale, keeping it environmentally responsible.
What are the valuable lessons you acquired from the ISB?
The course I pursued at ISB took place right after the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a notable impact on the batch size, with 3X the regular batches bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and industry experiences, paving the way for networking opportunities. I was able to connect with professionals from various sectors from all over India. These connections have been valuable and will continue to benefit me in the future as I navigate the Indian business landscape.
The program offered access to top-tier faculty and world-class infrastructure along with providing deep insights into running a family business. It focused on key aspects like succession planning, resolving family conflicts, and transforming a traditional family-run operation into a professionally managed, corporate-style organization which were some of the most valuable takeaways from my time at ISB.
How would you define your approach to success?
While my clients are primarily from the pharmaceutical sector, which is dedicated to saving lives, the environmental impact of our processes raises an important ethical question, ‘Are we contributing to health or causing harm through pollution?’ This grey area often sparks debate, even at the policy level, about whether such industries should be supported or not.
This is where my academics at FLAME University in Pune proved instrumental. We studied sustainability goals extensively and how renewable resources can be integrated into industrial processes. After returning to Hyderabad and joining my family business, I applied this knowledge by implementing
To further strengthen my business acumen, I pursued a postgraduate degree from ISB in Family Business Management, a unique program tailored specifically for second-generation entrepreneurs, offering a fresh perspective on business leadership compared to traditional MBA programs. Today, I am passionate about building something impactful on a larger scale, keeping it environmentally responsible.
What are the valuable lessons you acquired from the ISB?
The course I pursued at ISB took place right after the COVID-19 pandemic, which had a notable impact on the batch size, with 3X the regular batches bringing together individuals from diverse backgrounds and industry experiences, paving the way for networking opportunities. I was able to connect with professionals from various sectors from all over India. These connections have been valuable and will continue to benefit me in the future as I navigate the Indian business landscape.
My leadership style is strongly democratic, where in I avoid imposing rigid ideologies on my team
The program offered access to top-tier faculty and world-class infrastructure along with providing deep insights into running a family business. It focused on key aspects like succession planning, resolving family conflicts, and transforming a traditional family-run operation into a professionally managed, corporate-style organization which were some of the most valuable takeaways from my time at ISB.
How would you define your approach to success?
While my clients are primarily from the pharmaceutical sector, which is dedicated to saving lives, the environmental impact of our processes raises an important ethical question, ‘Are we contributing to health or causing harm through pollution?’ This grey area often sparks debate, even at the policy level, about whether such industries should be supported or not.
This is where my academics at FLAME University in Pune proved instrumental. We studied sustainability goals extensively and how renewable resources can be integrated into industrial processes. After returning to Hyderabad and joining my family business, I applied this knowledge by implementing
several green initiatives. For instance, our manufacturing processes transitioned from coal to renewable energy sources, ultimately achieving a zero-liquid discharge (ZLD) plant with no harmful environmental outputs.
Today, every thing we supply to the pharmaceutical sector is produced using 100 percent clean, renewable inputs. It is an outcome of my learning from FLAME and ISB.
Tell us about your leader - ship method.
My leadership style is strongly democratic, wherein I avoid imposing rigid ideologies on my team. When there is a new idea, policy, or direction to consider, I make it a point to first listen to my team’s perspectives. This open dialogue encourages constructive feedback and leads to more balanced, thoughtful decisions. Rather than taking an authoritative approach, I strive to lead through inclusion and shared understanding.
What is the future roadmap you’ve envisioned for the next five years?
Over the next five years, my vision is to establish the Vestro Group of Companies as a leading chemical manufacturer and supplier across South India. We have expanded by opening an office in Bengaluru and maintaining a strong presence in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. By further solidifying our footprint across the southern region, we aim to become a comprehensive, one-stop solution for the pharmaceutical industry.
What is your advice to the budding leaders in the industry?
I strongly advocate for the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices. Often, companies compromise environmental responsibility for short-term gains, which can lead to unethical practices that not only harm the planet but also damage the company's reputation. Irrespective of the business objective, it is essential to approach it with sustainability at the core. While implementing eco-friendly measures may require significant initial investment, they prove to be highly effective and beneficial in the long run, both environmentally and econo- mically.
Kiran Reddy Nandigala, Director, Vestro Solvents
Kiran Reddy Nandigala, an alumnus of ISB and FLAME University has specialized in environmental studies and managing family business. He is currently serving as director of Vestro Solvents.
Today, every thing we supply to the pharmaceutical sector is produced using 100 percent clean, renewable inputs. It is an outcome of my learning from FLAME and ISB.
Tell us about your leader - ship method.
My leadership style is strongly democratic, wherein I avoid imposing rigid ideologies on my team. When there is a new idea, policy, or direction to consider, I make it a point to first listen to my team’s perspectives. This open dialogue encourages constructive feedback and leads to more balanced, thoughtful decisions. Rather than taking an authoritative approach, I strive to lead through inclusion and shared understanding.
What is the future roadmap you’ve envisioned for the next five years?
Over the next five years, my vision is to establish the Vestro Group of Companies as a leading chemical manufacturer and supplier across South India. We have expanded by opening an office in Bengaluru and maintaining a strong presence in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. By further solidifying our footprint across the southern region, we aim to become a comprehensive, one-stop solution for the pharmaceutical industry.
What is your advice to the budding leaders in the industry?
I strongly advocate for the adoption of environmentally sustainable practices. Often, companies compromise environmental responsibility for short-term gains, which can lead to unethical practices that not only harm the planet but also damage the company's reputation. Irrespective of the business objective, it is essential to approach it with sustainability at the core. While implementing eco-friendly measures may require significant initial investment, they prove to be highly effective and beneficial in the long run, both environmentally and econo- mically.
Kiran Reddy Nandigala, Director, Vestro Solvents
Kiran Reddy Nandigala, an alumnus of ISB and FLAME University has specialized in environmental studies and managing family business. He is currently serving as director of Vestro Solvents.