Leadership Journey Examples on the RiseUp Radio Podcast

Leadership isn’t a destination – it’s a journey filled with twists, turns, and transformative moments that shape not just careers, but entire lives. Today, we’re diving into three distinct leadership journeys that prove there’s no one-size-fits-all path to making an impact.

Jaidev Murti from Accenture and Self Improving as a Manager

Jaidev Murti’s leadership journey is marked by a transition from indirect team management in consulting to formal leadership roles, and a significant evolution in his understanding of effective leadership.

Murti spent around 15 to 16 years in consulting, where he indirectly managed teams. This period helped him develop people management skills early on and become aware of his operating style, but formal management roles came much later.

Murti admits to having an “inflated sense of self” and adopting a “fake it till you make it” approach early in his career, which led to some trouble. He also admits to thinking he always had to have the answer and viewed situations solely from his perspective. He says that stepping outside of his own perspective and realizing he is serving others is key to effective leadership.

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Harjeet Khanduja from RIL and the First Kaizen

Harjeet Khanduja’s leadership journey is marked by a blend of early experiences, key mentors, and a commitment to genuine care for people.

Khanduja’s leadership journey began in college where he created a council of technical scholars and managed a team of 40 people to conduct mock exams. He also started a university newspaper. These early experiences gave him a “hang of it” when it came to managing teams.

His first corporate experience was at Tata Motors where, as a new supervisor on the assembly line, he had to manage workers twice his age. By listening to their concerns and involving them, he was able to implement the first Kaizen on the floor.

Khanduja follows a “VIP” philosophy of leadership, which stands for Vision, Inspiration, and Passion. This involves creating a compelling vision, inspiring people by communicating what’s in it for them, and bringing personal passion to the table.

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Nikhil Dey from AdFactors PR Looks Back

Nikhil Dey’s leadership journey began in the public relations (PR) industry in Mumbai, where he started as a trainee at a PR agency. He initially had little knowledge of the PR industry, but after taking courses in written and oral communication, advertising, and marketing, he decided to pursue it as a career. He quickly advanced from a trainee to heading the Delhi office of his first agency.

Push to Pull to Flow: Nikhil describes his leadership style as evolving from a “push” approach in his early career, where he focused on exerting his influence to get things done, to a “pull” approach, where he carried people with him, and finally to a “flow” state, where he reads the current and works with it

Over the years, he learned the importance of believing in what’s possible, having the courage to ask for opportunities, and having strong self-belief. His first managerial role came about when he took initiative to manage a client event after his boss quit. He learned to be honest in conversations, and to collaborate with his peers.

Find more about such leadership journey examples in the full conversation:

Each of these leaders brings their own flavor to the table – their struggles, victories, and everything in between. So grab your favorite drink, get comfortable, and let’s explore what real leadership looks like when the textbooks are thrown out the window.

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