Mr Parekh returns repeatedly to the idea that institutions are not built just by hard work, but by ethical consistency. “There’s no softer pillow to sleep on to put your head on than a clear conscience,” he says, before adding the line that anchors his entire philosophy: “It takes 20 years to build a reputation, but five minutes to ruin it.”
In the conversation, ethics is not positioned as idealism. It is positioned as infrastructure. Mr Parekh speaks about decisions that hold up under pressure, about refusing to compromise even when saying no is inconvenient, and about why integrity cannot be selective. Asked what a young professional’s personal code should be, he says: “It should be integrity, transparency, honesty. These should be non-negotiable.”
Hosted by Mukul Deora, The Secret Sauce episode is not a highlight reel of success. It is an insightful account of how India’s housing finance system was built before it was popular, before it was profitable, and before it was obvious.
The episode is available on all major podcast platforms.
Full Podcast – https://youtu.be/94GdYSXCI30?si=W9KyTCbmuwsL5wqW
