In a bustling corporate boardroom, the faint hum of projectors fills the air. Slide decks stacked with pie charts and growth projections flash on a screen. Each chart promises efficiency, scalability, and profitability. Yet, something feels hollow, like a symphony played without heart. Elon Musk once commented, “Too many MBAs are running companies.” And he wasn’t wrong. Our focus has drifted from creating to administrating, from vision to validation, and from making waves to counting ripples.

The Problem with the Spreadsheet Mentality

Close your eyes and imagine a carpenter. She doesn’t spend her day calculating the cost-benefit ratio of nails or debating the optimal number of planks for her next project. Instead, she feels the grain of the wood beneath her fingertips, smells the fresh pine shavings as she works, and marvels as her creation—a sturdy, beautiful table—takes shape. This is craftsmanship. This is value creation.

Contrast that with modern corporations. Layers of bureaucracy smother creativity. Metrics masquerade as achievements. Decisions are guided not by purpose but by the cold logic of spreadsheets. Like a clock that ticks loudly but tells the wrong time, many companies are busy, but they’re not productive in any meaningful sense.

What Does “Added Value” Really Mean?

“Added value” is a term as overused as it is misunderstood. Many assume it’s all about profit margins or shareholder returns, but true value is richer, deeper, and more vibrant. It’s about creating something that truly matters.

1. Solving a Problem:
Think of Dyson. Before James Dyson’s cyclone vacuum cleaner, we tolerated dust bags that clogged and lost suction. He spent years perfecting his design, not because a quarterly report demanded it but because he wanted to solve a problem. His product didn’t just clean floors; it redefined the vacuuming experience.

2. Improving Lives:
Take Warby Parker, the eyewear company. By combining stylish, affordable glasses with a “buy one, give one” model, they’ve done more than improve vision. They’ve improved lives—millions of them. Their purpose goes beyond frames and lenses; it’s about dignity and opportunity.

3. Elevating Experiences:
Consider Apple’s journey. From the satisfying click of an iPod’s wheel to the sleek elegance of the iPhone, their focus has always been on elevating experiences. Steve Jobs once said, “Design is not just what it looks like and feels like. Design is how it works.” Apple’s success isn’t from pushing paper; it’s from pushing boundaries.

Bureaucracy vs. Boldness

Why, then, do so many companies settle for mediocrity? The answer lies in their obsession with the predictable. Bureaucracy offers a false sense of control. Like a padded cell, it may feel safe, but it stifles creativity. Metrics and KPIs become the goal rather than the guide.

The result? Companies that exist not to innovate or inspire but merely to perpetuate themselves. They churn out products with all the passion of a vending machine spitting out snacks: functional, yes, but forgettable.

The Power of Purpose

True innovation doesn’t come from another meeting or an exhaustive report. It comes from purpose. It comes from a vision so compelling that it pulls people toward it like a magnet. When Howard Schultz envisioned Starbucks, he didn’t see just coffee. He imagined a “third place” between home and work, a space to connect and unwind. That purpose infused every latte, every café design, and every interaction.

Purpose is the heartbeat of value creation. Without it, companies may survive, but they will never thrive.

Ask Yourself: Is Your Company Enhancing the World?

It’s easy to get lost in the numbers. Quarterly earnings reports, market share analyses, and operational reviews have their place, but they’re not the whole picture. The real question is: Are you building something that enhances the world?

Consider Patagonia. Their mission isn’t just to sell outdoor gear; it’s to protect the planet. Their “Don’t Buy This Jacket” campaign challenged consumers to reconsider mindless consumption—a bold move that resonated deeply with their audience and reinforced their purpose-driven brand.

Breaking Free from the MBA Mold

Elon Musk’s critique isn’t an attack on MBAs; it’s a call to action. We need leaders who think like creators, not just administrators. Leaders who see opportunities where others see obstacles. Leaders who measure success not by what they extract from the world but by what they contribute to it.

So how do we break free? Start by asking yourself these questions:

  • What problem are we solving?
  • How are we improving lives?
  • Are we elevating experiences?
  • Are we enhancing the world—or just existing in it?

These aren’t just philosophical musings; they’re practical imperatives. Purpose-driven companies outperform their peers. They attract loyal customers, inspired employees, and sustainable growth.

A New Era of Leadership

Imagine a business world where every product, every service, every decision is infused with purpose. Where companies are not just machines of profit but engines of progress. That’s the future we should strive for—a future where spreadsheets support the vision but don’t dictate it.

As Peter Drucker famously said, “Management is doing things right; leadership is doing the right things.” It’s time to lead with purpose, innovate with heart, and create with conviction. Only then can we add true value—not just to our companies but to the world.

In the end, the choice is ours: Will we be builders or bureaucrats? Innovators or imitators? Creators of value—or keepers of the status quo? The world is watching. Let’s make it count.

Dr. Prahlada N.B
MBBS (JJMMC), MS (PGIMER, Chandigarh). 
MBA in Healthcare & Hospital Management (BITS, Pilani), 
Postgraduate Certificate in Technology Leadership and Innovation (MIT, USA)
Executive Programme in Strategic Management (IIM, Lucknow)
Senior Management Programme in Healthcare Management (IIM, Kozhikode)
Advanced Certificate in AI for Digital Health and Imaging Program (IISc, Bengaluru). 

Senior Professor and former Head, 
Department of ENT-Head & Neck Surgery, Skull Base Surgery, Cochlear Implant Surgery. 
Basaveshwara Medical College & Hospital, Chitradurga, Karnataka, India. 

My Vision: I don’t want to be a genius.  I want to be a person with a bundle of experience. 

My Mission: Help others achieve their life’s objectives in my presence or absence!

My Values:  Creating value for others. 

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