Remarkable path of Raj Subramaniam from India’s southern tip to FedEx’s helm

When I missed my first meeting with Raj due to an emergency involving the care of an injured young boy, I sent him a note filled with apologies.

His response was both profound and unwavering: “I understand. People matter and always come first.”

This succinct yet powerful statement epitomizes Raj Subramaniam’s essence—his empathy, his adaptability, and his dedication to the primacy of the individual. It is this philosophy, grounded in the recognition of the value of each person, that defines Raj and sets him apart as a true leader.

Raj’s path in FedEx is anything but ordinary. In 1991, amid a global recession, as MBA graduates were leaving the USA, Raj found a home at FedEx where he was welcomed into an international marketing role that set the stage for a global career. In Hong Kong, he embraced the challenge of a new environment, learning to adapt and empathize with people from different cultures and languages. In Canada, he led 5,000 team members and participated in a reality TV show, “The Big Switcheroo”, where he experienced a multitude of roles on camera including working at the hub and the counter, and as a courier, a mechanic, and a call center agent. This deep, immersive engagement with team members reinforced his belief in the centrality of people to FedEx’s success. As the CEO now, he underscores that FedEx’s culture, anchored on people, service, and profit, is a constant in an ever-changing world.

Raj’s leadership is grounded in timeless values drawn from his Indian heritage. He advocates for mental well-being through yoga, living in the moment, and doing good for its own sake. His advice to leaders is simple: be open-minded, adhere to core principles, lead with empathy, and above all, be human. In a complex geopolitical landscape, he shapes the agenda at the US India CEO Forum, the US India Strategic Partnership Forum, and the US China Business Council. He shares Cordell Hull’s view that “when goods cross borders, armies rarely do”, and amplifies the importance of business as a force for peace and stability amongst people and nations.

Raj’s superpower is his ability to relate and unite. His leadership at FedEx is a masterclass in people-centric innovation. As FedEx continues to connect the world together, Raj’s belief that people are at the heart of every success defines his being. Each interaction he engages in, each decision he makes, is a deliberate act of creation, forging ever-stronger connections between individuals, enterprises, and nations. As a global leader, he is authentic. As a person, he brings unpretentious humility. He stands tall as a leader. The world is his network!