Ayaz Peerbhoy Memorial Lecture hosts Irfan Razack at its 44th edition

The 44th edition of the Ayaz Peerbhoy Memorial Lecture, hosted by the MAA Foundation in association with The Advertising Club, Bangalore and Exchange4media, was held on January 31 at Taj MG Road, Bengaluru. The evening brought together leaders from business, advertising and entrepreneurship for a reflective and insightful session. Instituted in memory of Ayaz Peerbhoy, one of the pioneers of Indian advertising, the annual lecture has, over the years, evolved into a respected platform for conversations around leadership, enterprise and nation-building.

This year’s edition of the Ayaz Peerbhoy Memorial Lecture opened with a compelling introductory video celebrating the life and achievements of Irfan Razack, Chairman and Managing Director of Prestige Group. The film traced his journey from humble beginnings in Bengaluru to becoming one of India’s most respected real estate leaders, setting the tone for an inspiring session ahead.

This was followed by a welcome address that reaffirmed the purpose of the Ayaz Peerbhoy Memorial Lecture as a forum to celebrate entrepreneurship, ideas and individuals who have contributed meaningfully to India’s business landscape. The address also paid tribute to Ayaz Peerbhoy’s legacy and his enduring influence on the advertising and communications industry.

Next, the audience was taken through a deep-dive, two-hour lecture by Irfan Razack, during which he shared candid reflections on leadership, enterprise and the evolution of his entrepreneurial journey. The session offered not just business insights, but lessons drawn from experience, setbacks and long-term thinking.

Irfan Razack’s story is one of perseverance and vision. Born and raised in Bengaluru, he began his career in the family’s small tailoring and menswear business before venturing into real estate, a field in which he would eventually leave an indelible mark. Under his leadership, Prestige Group has transformed into one of India’s premier property developers, known for iconic projects and thoughtfully designed urban spaces that have reshaped city skylines.

Titled “From Clothes to Skyscrapers,” Razack’s address charted Prestige's journey from selling men’s fashion to building a real estate empire. He spoke openly about the early days of Prestige Group, when it was a modest operation, and how its first major foray into retail real estate in 1998 marked the beginning of a new phase of ambition and scale.

Reflecting on his early years, he emphasised the importance of personal drive, noting, “If you don’t have the passion, the hunger and the discipline, and I’ll also add consistency — you don’t achieve anything in life.”

Tracing the company’s growth from a 900-sq-ft tailoring shop to a real estate developer with over 200 million sq. ft. of completed and ongoing developments, Razack reflected on several defining milestones. These included landmark projects such as UB City in Bengaluru, the creation of Kingfisher Towers, and the transformation of legacy structures — journeys marked by both bold decisions and hard-earned lessons from missteps along the way.

He also spoke about Prestige Group’s expanding footprint beyond Bengaluru into Chennai, Hyderabad, Kochi and Mumbai, and its continued growth momentum, highlighted by a ₹21,000-crore topline in FY24, the highest in the group’s history. Looking ahead, Razack shared insights into upcoming developments, including projects in Delhi’s Aerocity, signalling the group’s next phase of expansion. Under his visionary leadership, Prestige Group has delivered landmark residential, commercial, retail and hospitality developments across India.

Throughout the session, Razack seamlessly wove personal anecdotes with leadership lessons on resilience, intent and long-term thinking. “If your intent is to create something meaningful, to bring in excellence, things align,” he said, underscoring how the Prestige Group was built not just brick by brick, but through values, patience and trust.

The programme concluded with a vote of thanks by Laeeq Ali, President, Ad Club Bangalore, acknowledging the speakers, partners and attendees who continue to support the lecture series and its mission. 

Over the years, the Ayaz Peerbhoy Memorial Lecture has hosted an eminent line-up of leaders from across industries, including P.C. Musthafa of iD Fresh Food, Kiran Mazumdar-Shaw of Biocon, Harsh Mariwala, Chariman, Marico, T.T. Jagannathan of TTK Prestige and Chetan Maini of SUN Mobility, reinforcing its stature as a platform that celebrates leadership, enterprise and nation-building.

The Ayaz Peerbhoy Memorial Lecture continues to uphold its founding purpose of celebrating leadership that blends entrepreneurial excellence with long-term societal impact, while offering audiences first-hand perspectives from leaders who have helped shape modern India.