Akshata Murty: Charting Her Own Path beyond Acquired Legacy

By: WE Staff

“Not my father’s daughter. Not my husband’s wife.”“A Bangalore girl with a British accent.”This was the gist of how Akshata Murty drew the boundaries of her identity in a recent conversation- unlabeled, unboxed, and unapologetic.

The UK-based businesswoman, Infosys heiress and wife to erstwhile UK PM, Rishi Sunak, Akshata Murty was recently at the center of a growing discourse. In an insightful, honest dialogue with Indian entrepreneur, investor, and Zerodha co-founder Nikhil Kamath on his podcast People by WTF, the ball got rolling when Akshata shared her candid thoughts around the importance of building individuality, surpassing the expectations of legacy. 

The three-hour long podcast is trending and breaking new grounds as Former UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and Akshata marked the first appearance as a couple. At its core, the conversation explored pivotal themes of life such as leadership, legacy, belonging, education, identity, and the need for skill reset to survive the fast-paced world. Through the podcast, the otherwise reserved Akshata shared her perspective and evolving narrative on the fundamental relevance of defining and sustaining individuality.

A Fine Balance: Navigating Lineage & Individuality

Reflecting upon her cross-cultural experiences spanning India and the United Kingdom, she identified herself as someone who connects these two diverse worlds in harmony without being tagged to either one of them. The engaging conversation revolved around her clear stance on the importance of going beyond labels, maintaining composure between success and adversity, and not being defined by family expectations. Reflective of her Indian lineage, she cited the example of Bhagavad Gita, stressing upon the undying value of focusing on one’s duty and doing what is right and needed.

Owning her heritage and terming it as a ‘non-negotiable,’ she firmly expressed that she would not have it any other way. In the same breadth, she also voiced her thoughts emphasizing the crucial importance of designing her own individuality beyond the benefits of familial relationships. Akshata pointed to compassion, curiosity, and integrity as central to her worldview, allowing herto take the bold stance of becoming unapologetically her! Departing from rigid corporate notions and reflecting a leadership mindset, she views balance as dynamic rather than fixed. “You have to drift between both extremes. But you always know your anchor—your values,” she explained.

With the daily commitment of staying true, she leads a life that clearly refuses to conform and fit into people’s expectations.

Roots that Run Deep 

As the daughter to Indian billionaire businessman and founder of the IT giant Infosys, N. R. Narayana Murthy, Akshata has forever been surrounded by privileged upbringing and influential background. However, focused on defining her own path, she is steadfast onbuilding a self that rests on meaningful contribution to society, driven by intention and purpose. “That’s not my identity. I’m very much a Bangalore girl with a British accent,” she remarked.

Akshata often questions the validity of addressing the tendency of linking women’s achievements to their family ties. As an active women entrepreneur with substantial influential assignments to her credit, Akshata described her life’s journey as one that stems from self-awareness and values, allowing her to stand on her own two feet. She is seen rising on her own terms and steeping into her higher-self, without the fear of criticism and judgment. Brought up with inclination towards arts and Indian growing economy, she and her brother were raised with strong philanthropic values.

Creating Impact beyond Legacy Labels

The scion acknowledges her fortune of holding many titles but refuses to be defined and boxed by them. From being termed as an heiress worth billions, to Prime Minister’s wife, to a businesswoman, she has played each role successfully owing to her acumen and natural aptitude to gracefully endure every new chapter of her life.  For years now, her merit has always earned her a seat at the table, backed by her productively holding numerous influential positions till date. Akshata delivers a clear message: when your last name carries a global weight, carving your own individuality becomes a conscious choice. 

“I grew up in Jayanagar. My father built a company. My husband was Prime Minister. But I am not my father’s daughter. I am not my husband’s wife. I am my own person defined by impact, not labels,” Akshata affirmed.

Mother Murty: A Powerhouse & Constant Support 

Highlighting the pivotal importance of right guidance and timely support, Akshata has often described her mother Sudha Murty as her constant pillar of strength. She has emphasized on the incredible role that mentorship plays in empowering women and girls in business.

"I know the phenomenal work that goes into running a business. My mother's endeavors in science, technology, engineering and maths allowed her to push boundaries both academically and professionally and gave her a ringside seat to the technological revolution,"she said. Akshata expressed hope that strong mentorship encourages young girls and women to feel empowered enough to acknowledge and explore their dreams and passions. 

Lighter Notes: A Childhood in Old Bangalore

The podcast took a beautiful turn when Akshata spoke about her childhood that added a cultural and experiential layer. Building on a lighter note, the host asked her about local favorites, citing Dosa Camp. Akshata recalled the outlet’s launch and its experimental and innovative dosa offerings. She fondly recalled her years spent in Bengaluru, bring back to the memories of Corner House, and how they still endure costumers sharing nostalgic brand equity. Sharing candid insights, she spoke about Corner House’s classic “Death by Chocolate”, remaining to be a family favorite.

Living Bridge: Indians in the UK 

Influenced by his vision on shaping perspectives on individuality, she reflected upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s guidance and identified herself as a part of the‘living bridge’ on the podcast. “Indians who are living in the UK are all part of the living bridge… they connect Britain to India and vice versa, “she recounted his words.India has always been home for her. “So for me, when I think deeply about who I am, in the context of current day, i am part of that living bridge. I feel incredibly at home in India. I am incredibly emotional about my heritage. I am incredibly proud of my heritage,” she added.

The podcast included valuable lessons from Rishi, where he talked about his experiences entering public service. He added that life after office is humbling and exciting, definitely not sad. “I don’t know what the next thing is. And that’s actually exciting,”he said. Growing up as a kid in Southampton with his parents working as a doctor and a pharmacist, his experiences of delivering medicines to people at a young age taught him how powerful individuals can be in serving their communities.

The dialogue also noted viewpoints from the couple about India’s expansive scale, young population, and dynamic consumer landscape present unparallel opportunities to drive the future across business, technology, and governance. Rishi also pointed out that India’s emerging leaders will need to embrace uncertainty with both ambition and restraint. As per him, it is imperative for India to build solutions that serve communities over concentrated global interests.

The podcast grew deep with conversations around AI. Rishi spoke about AI-led disruption that was focused on the continuous need of broader skill sets, highlighting adaptability and up-advancement as core essential in a rapidly evolving landscape. The couple pointed at AI’s capacity to influence and expand access to essential services like education and healthcare, uplifting a larger population along the process instead of concentrating benefits among a minority. “Entrepreneurship is the new education.”Rishi added.

Nikhil Kamath is a popular conversationalist and host of trending podcast 'People by WTF.' His show is a platform for hosting friends and industry experts focusing on current topics in technology, AI, gaming, business, etc.