Kernels of Success

Any organizational structure needs to have exceptional leadership in combating problems from COVID to internal challenges and those pertaining to external government policies. According to Priyanka, leadership is a function of how you respond to circumstances. “Being an equanimist in success and failure is the mark of a true leader,” she quotes from the Bhagavad Gita. According to her, while tasting failure and constant reinvigoration of self is essential for long-term success, she deems complacency as suicidal. She also believes that to identify the pitfalls, one must form an internal group within the organization whose only job is to try and destroy you with intellectual honesty, constructive dissent, and contra views before someone from outside the firm attempts to do it. That way, you will stay ahead of the game.

“Appreciate legacy, stay agile and observe trends inside and outside the organization,” she implores to young leaders stating that critical thinking is vital for a leader. Driven by intellectual critique, it is crucial to be brutally honest and expect the same from the team. Not surrounding oneself with those who echo your thoughts, a leader must never be afraid of questions, suggestions. S/he must empower and encourage people who have cogent and credible feedback.

Her advice to entrepreneurs is to be always unique with their service or product offering; being merely efficient in pricing and similar in operating dynamics, ideas, disruptions, tweaks is unsustainable. She also believes that the timing of actualizing ideas, executing them flawlessly, and constantly refining them is everything. She states, “make a business move when the consumer doesn’t need it, and it’ll get no traction.” Consciously agile, she believes that once utility value is established, it is important to pivot around the offering to stay relevant.

Expressing her concerns over a mindset that starts a business only to sell it, she believes that only purpose-led businesses last in the long run. Profit and revenue is a by-product of the intent and fades out if not purpose aligned.

She also believes that good leadership is about making oneself redundant and focusing on succession planning. Given her vast experience, she believes institutionalizing the business is of paramount importance. “Good leadership involves swinging from one branch to another. The art lies in understanding when to let go,” states Priyanka.