In 2006, after 1,400 years, the oldest family business in the world went out of business. Kongo Gumi, a Japanese temple builder that's been in operation since 578 AD went under burdened by excess debt.

Debt-free and with billions of dollars of cold cash in the bank, that's not a future Infosys needs to worry about.

But its not taking chances. His confidence tempered by a determination keep the slowdown from Infosys' electrified fence, S. Gopalakrishnan (Kris to his colleagues), is focused on business efficiency. And that's his advice to other business leaders.

It's a strategy that's working, if the atmosphere at Infosys is any indicator. The air there has a feel of business-as-usual-- not anxiety and fear.

In this interview, Kris also shares his views on the slowdown and what companies can do to stay healthy.