A CHARITABLE MISSION

EDITOR’S LETTER

ince the onset of the pandemic, business leaders have been nimble.

They’ve not only had to change how their organisations operated internally, but they’ve had to think differently about whom they serve and how.

Our philanthropy leaders all have had unique barriers to overcome during the pandemic, but one thing was true of all of them: No one knew these challenges were on the horizon.

Global Citizen is dedicated to celebrating the work of non-profit leaders, but also reminds us to keep moving the needle forward, engaging in conversations with people from all walks of life about their own challenges and successes to stir our own evolution.

To start, philanthropist and real estate development mogul PNC Menon graces the cover of our 62nd issue. In our exclusive interview, Menon shares his personal story and why he’s devoting half of his billion-dollar fortune to the women and girls of his hometown of Kerala.

Continuing the conversation, fashion model Flaviana Matata uses her eponymous foundation as a powerful platform to empower and support the young girls of Tanzania to unleash their potential and achieve their dream lives.

We also had the opportunity to spend time with Spanish actress, businesswoman and philanthropist Maria Bravo, founder of the Global Gift Foundation, who’s on a mission to create a positive impact on the lives of vulnerable communities in need of representation, protection, and support.

As always, you’ll find these pages packed with inspiration to spur new ideas, discover the latest trends, and provide a brief escape from the daily grind.

Enjoy the read!

Andrea Antal

GLOBAL CITIZEN

EDITOR IN CHIEF Andrea Antal

COPY EDITOR Sameer Denzi

CREATIVE Fierce International Art Team

CONTRIBUTORS Teresa Esmezyan

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PNC MENON THE POWER OF GIVING

A CHARITABLE MISSION

GC chats with legendary developer PNC Menon, founder and chairman of the multinational real estate and construction giant Sobha Realty, and the man who has pledged 50% of his wealth to charity.

Growing up in Kerala, was it your dream to become a billionaire?

My lessons came in small steps. No one can say that they planned to become a billionaire. I came from very humble beginnings, and my growth was very gradual, and I certainly never aspired to reach a billionaire status. It’s important to note that I didn’t even become a billionaire until my late 50s, and it was a sheer accident. Of course, I wanted to be successful and respectable, but never at the cost of my values. There are 2,700 billionaires globally, and in my opinion, it’s nothing but an accident, whether you inherit your fortune and work to manage it or reach that status through the success of your work, I believe that achievement of great wealth is purely accidental. Philanthropy is a very important aspect of my success, which is why I decided to dedicate 50 per cent of my wealth to charitable causes. Giving back is very important to my value system and who I am as a human being.

What philosophies did your parents have in teaching you about the value of money?

I lost my father at a very young age. He was also a businessman. Our family had a small trucking business, which consisted of three trucks.

He was very successful in his own way, but I lost him when I was ten years old, and my mother had mental health issues, so, I lacked the parental guidance growing up.

Of course, I had my grandparents, but they were not hands on in the teachings of financial matters and that kind of development, and it would be fair to say that their ways of thinking were outdated in that sense.

But my upbringing was certainly a driving force in wanting to be successful and have my own independence.

What kind of jobs did you have as a teen, and what did you take away from those experiences?

I’ve always had an entrepreneurial spirit. As a young teen, I started my first business as a street-side contractor. One of the first projects I ever worked on was having a small table made, and I still have that table today, which I plan to take with me to the ashes when I reach my next journey in life. When you don’t have money and start building your career, you go through many bad experiences and hardships, which can be very painful at times, but that’s part of your life, and you’ll remember those experiences that shape who you are.

What is your dynamic like as a marital team with your beloved wife, Sobha?

My wife, Sobha, is a simple woman from a small village. We married young – she is ten years younger than I am.

She is the matriarch in our family, but she doesn’t get involved in the business.

We keep our family life entirely separate from work life. When I get home from work, I enjoy my quiet time, watching the news and unwinding, and she gives me that time to reflect and think.

Sobha has always taken great pride and interest in focusing on raising our children and nurturing their education.