Transformational leaders create a vision for their followers and lead change through inspiration and motivation. They are excellent role models, and their followers imitate several aspects of their strategic leadership. Visionary leadership is inspired by activating followers' self-efficacy so that followers believe they can go above and beyond expectations. A transformational business leader prioritizes understanding what motivates individual employees in leadership development and helps them focus on the company's long-term vision. CEO Insights magazine recently interacted with the top leaders of the industry; here is their advice to the budding industry leaders.
Rakesh Aerath, President - Asia Pacific, CGI
"The technology landscape is changing faster than ever, and you must constantly learn and evolve. Never think that you have reached a position where you can relax. I spend a few hours every day learning about new technologies. We all have to be students of the industry and focus on technology and business domain changes to be able to be a partner and expert of choice for your clients. On the other hand, there is a debate about whether AI will replace jobs. Yes, AI will continue automating many monotonous tasks, but in the process, it will create 20 to 30 percent more time for all of us to do more high-value work. We will have to reskill and upskill to leverage this available time for higher-value work. Lastly, we need to evolve from command and control-based leadership to trust and inspiration-based leadership."
Aloke Palsikar, EVP & Global Head of Aerospace and IHM at Tata Technologies
"Focus on your personal journey and overarching career goals. Embrace the concept of continuous learning as a fundamental aspect of effective leadership, as it equips you with the knowledge and skills to adapt to evolving challenges. Leaders should consistently maintain a broad perspective, emphasizing the significance of collaborative teamwork in achieving collective objectives. Remember, the welfare of society should serve as the guiding principle of your endeavors, recognizing that true success is intricately linked with the prosperity and harmony of the community you play an integral role in."
Parag Bhise, CEO, Nucleus Software
"A crucial piece of advice is to prioritize continuous upskilling. In today's rapidly evolving landscape, the skills and knowledge one acquires today may quickly become outdated. Therefore, committing to lifelong learning and growth is a necessity. Dedicating time to staying updated with the latest industry trends, emerging technologies, shifting customer demands, and best global practices is important to remain relevant in the field."
He adds, "It is critically important for any professional to stay extremely customer-focused and continuously keep assessing customers’ current needs while foreseeing futuristic needs as well as proactively finding out and addressing customer pain points. Finally, it is equally important to put the organization’s priorities before your own and provide a single-minded focus on the vision and goals set by the organization. I am sure if the above advice is followed, any individual can set and achieve professional milestones in their career."
Anil Ghelani, CFA, Senior Vice President, DSP Mutual Fund
"In the finance industry, trust is the most important factor. If you're willing to place ethics over profits, that could be the key to your success. In the world of finance, if you make even a small mistake where you lose trust, you can never grow back to the old terms of doing good business. Hence, my advice to anybody who is in pursuit of a good career in the world of investments is to always place investors first on your priority list and focus on ethics over profits."
"Anil continues, "Another crucial aspect is innovation. In finance, if you linger on the same process, you will be left behind at some point. That's the level of innovations happening in the world of finance around everything from managing your money to gathering data to guide in decision-making, approaching clients, and showcasing how to allocate their portfolios. Beyond the traditional skill sets required to excel in finance, such as being good with numbers, having an eye for detail, being a good analyst, having respect for history, and focusing on risk factors, these aspects will help you progress your career."
Subbu Subramanian, Country Director – India, Dynatrace
"Not only in this industry but for any line of work, I would suggest three principles for aspiring professionals who wish to leave their mark in the future. First, unfortunately, most of us are designed to blame whether it is work, organization, boss, or even a life partner. Though there is no harm in analyzing “what went wrong,” the key here is to identify the gaps and navigate through them for better outcomes for the future. Secondly, nurture a genuinely open mind, which will prove invaluable in the long run. We all have the same 24 hours, but focused work and prioritization set high achievers apart. The art of focused working is a seriously unappreciated skill. It is good to remind yourself time and again that success lies in continuous improvement and staying adaptable to the ever-changing landscape."
Raghavendra C Swamy, Managing Director, Concentrix
"First and foremost, it is crucial to fully embrace and embody the values of the organization they work for. By aligning their actions and behaviors with these values, they can contribute to the success of the organization and create a positive impact. Remaining humble and demonstrating passion for embracing new challenges will take you to great heights. Building a strong professional network is another valuable strategy. Actively engage in networking activities, both within and outside the organization, to connect with colleagues, mentors, and industry experts.
He adds, "Networking opens doors to collaboration, knowledge-sharing, and new ideas to explore. Imbibe the values of integrity and honesty in everything you do. Act with transparency, uphold high ethical standards, and always strive to do what is right, even when faced with difficult situations. Maintaining integrity builds trust, credibility, and respect, which are essential for long-term success and professional relationships."
Sanjay Vyas, EVP, Global SBU Head-Clinical Logistics & Global Safety Services & Managing Director India, Parexel
"My advice to budding entrepreneurs and leaders is to ensure that you can connect with people on the ground. Make sure that you have those interactions regularly, and understand their feelings by putting yourself into the perspective of who you're talking to. Connect with the Millennials, Gen Xs, and Gen Zs in your organization and ensure you learn from them as well. Adapting to the changing environment is also crucial to success—be it the pandemic, the Russia-Ukraine conflict, or even the technology explosion. You must adapt to such changes and change rapidly and constantly in tune with how the industry is moving forward."
Prashant Sharma, Chief Technical Officer (Group Manufacturing Operations & Group Site Quality), Zydus Group
"You have to have an open mind and be open to formative experiences. The best leaders will emerge when they move across functions and comprehend the organization from multiple perspectives. You should always be open to learning. Another important aspect is Networking. Intra and inter-organizational networking is an important aspect of growth."