If technology and steel have anything in common, it can be found in what Joe Issa describes as “two different individuals sharing the same sentiment about what people should do with their wealth”, as he leaps across two distinct fields of endeavour, two separate hemispheres and two centuries, to find inspiration.
Issa, himself a philanthropist, says he finds inspiration from a quote by Indian technology tycoon Azim Premji, which is reminiscent of the famous 19th-century excerpt by Scottish-American steel tycoon Andrew Carnegie.
“Whenever I read a quote from Mr Premji’s it reminds me of how privileged I am, and therefore, my duty to give back to the less privileged in order to improve their world,” said Issa, founder of the Cool Group of over 50 companies that are being leveraged internationally, with the objective of making the group a global corporation.
Premji, who is 4th in the world after giving away US$8 billion so far to charities, once said: “I strongly believe that those of us, who are privileged to have wealth, should contribute significantly, to try and create a better world for the millions who are far less privileged.”
“There is also another compelling reason for giving back to the underprivileged in communities,” Issa said, arguing that he could not have made it without them, as he referenced a quote by Carnegie that said: “No man can become rich without himself enriching others…”
Issa, who at one time was giving away over J$500,000 a month in scholarships to underprivileged Jamaican children, according to the Business Observer, adds, “I especially like Mr Premji’s (quote) and his belief that riches are meant to be shared among the less fortunate.”
According to Forbes, Tech magnate Azim Premji’s US$7.7-billion-revenue company Wipro Limited (ADR), India’s third-largest outsourcer, has been on a buying spree to boost growth, with his most recent acquisition being Appirio, a cloud consulting firm based in Indianapolis.
At age 71, Premji is rated 72nd among the world’s billionaires, with a net worth of US$16.5 billion as at July 11 this year. He is also No. 4 among India’s most affluent and is ranked 13th on India’s most vibrant tech list. He is also India’s 61st most influential person.
Moreover, like Issa, he has studied at a prestigious US university – Issa at College of the Holy Cross majoring in Accounting and Economics, and Premji at Stamford majoring in Arts and Science – as well as being married, with two children.
Joseph Issa, Jamaica, Sea, Sand and Sun 