Ratan Tata among the biggest brains in business

After being chosen as one of the most influential people in the world by Time magazine, Mr.Ratan Tata has been named among the biggest brains in business by another US publication. The list of '73 Biggest Brains in Business', compiled by business publication Conde Nast Portfolio , features Tata for his 2,500 dollar car - Nano, along with the likes of media mogul Rupert Murdoch and chief executive of investment bank Goldman Sachs Lloyd Blankfein.

"Brilliance comes in many forms, whether it is founding a startup that kicks sand in Microsoft's face or creating an affordable car for the developing world. A small number of innovators influence the rest of the influencers in business," the magazine said in the accompanying report.

The list published in the latest issue of the magazine is further classified into five groups - game changers, connectors, tastemakers, rebels and upstarts. About Tata, the magazine said that he believes the future of the auto industry rests in the hands of people who do not yet drive. Tata Group, which recently snapped up British luxury brands Jaguar and Land Rover, has unveiled Tata Nano - the world's cheapest car.

"The model won't be sold in the US but has the potential to radically alter the market for manufacturers here. Tata-inspired followers are already revving up their engines: Nissan-Renault partnering with India's Bajaj Auto to develop a car by 2010 that will sell for less than 3,000 dollars.
"But except for Ford India, US companies can't produce a model this cheaply. Which means they risk being run over," the magazine noted.

Last week, Time magazine had named Ratan Tata as one of the 100 most influential people in the world. Apart from these three names, others who have featured in the game changers category are JPMorgan Chase head Jamie Dimon, World Bank managing director Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, General Electric CEO Jeff Immelt, software designer and co-founder of FriendFeed Paul Buchheit and anatomy professor at the University of Wisconsin James Thomson. The magazine talked to CEOs, economists and power players to prepare the list. The connectors group, which includes Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Bin, is described as those people "who know everyone who matters and can get them on the phone".

Another name in this group is Nobel Prize winner and Grameen Bank founder Muhammad Yunus, whose microfinance initiative has assisted about 7.5 million small business owners in Bangladesh. Designers and style setters are classified as tastemakers, which include the likes of BMW's chief of design Chris Bangle and well known media anchor Oprah Winfrey. Those who find a place in the upstarts category include Wal-Mart CEO Lee Scott and artist Yue Minjun.

"The kind of brilliance were looking at is not measured in IQ. It manifests itself in work that is changing entire industries and influencing others," the report added.