Author Gurcharan Das asserts in Mohali that having the right attitude is more crucial than possessing intelligence.

At an event called Startup Bookshop, organized by Innovation Mission Punjab and Punjab Lit Foundation at Kalkat Bhawan in Aerocity, Mohali, acclaimed author and the first CEO of Procter and Gamble India, Gurcharan Das, spoke to aspiring entrepreneurs. Das highlighted the importance of attitude over intelligence and skill-sets, sharing his own business experiences. He recounted his journey from joining Vicks Vaporub as a trainee to becoming the first Indian CEO of P&G. Das narrated the story of Kamble, a night shift security guard from Kolar District in Maharashtra, who, despite having little formal education, learned English to send fax messages and eventually retired as a director of the company. Das emphasized that attitude is crucial in leadership and hiring, citing Goldman Sachs as an example of a company that hires for attitude through a rigorous interview process.

Discussing the challenges faced by startups, Das stated that India achieved real independence with the economic liberalization of 1991, which allowed startups to thrive, unlike during the License Raj. He pointed out that despite India's GDP growing by 6% annually since then, job creation has not kept pace, highlighting the need for an industrial revolution.

For budding writers, Das stressed the importance of discipline in the creative process, sharing his routine of writing from 6.00 am to 12 noon. He also spoke about his new book and memoir, 'Another Sort of Freedom,' which explores the concept of 'moksha,' and shared his favorite startup story, 'Mouse and the Merchant.' Das reflected on his own life, initially aspiring to major in engineering at Harvard but eventually studying philosophy and joining Vicks Vaporub.

Khushwant Singh, co-founder of Punjab Lit Foundation, discussed his discovery of extensive literature on Punjab's startup ecosystem during his tenure as information commissioner. He announced plans for an initiative called 'mothers against drugs' and the upcoming Punjab Lit Fest. Somveer Anand, CEO of Punjab Innovation Mission, expressed a vision to transform the region into the "Shivalik Valley," a major tech hub north of Delhi, noting that founders of successful startups like Flipkart and Zomato are from the region but had to relocate. Anirudh Tewari, Director General of Mahatma Gandhi State Institute of Public Administration, inaugurated the event, emphasizing that entrepreneurship is inherent in Punjabis, who have always thrived globally.