Anupama Vaidya

Drawing inspirational leadership lessons from pioneers who have charted the course.   By Anupama Vaidya.    Leadership is a journey. You don’t become a leader overnight; it’s the course you navigate that defines true leadership, else it’s remains an entitled chair! On this day, January 30, what better way than to pen down my thoughts for the leadership alchemy; on a day where we pay our homage to an individual who led a path with millions joining in the one mission of independence. Mahatma Gandhi .   As we bow to his martyrdom today, mastering leadership demands on us, not only to learn from our very own experiences but also to draw wisdom from those who've paved the way. They serve as the guiding north stars in our leadership journey. Mahatma Gandhiji, whose life epitomized the essence of leadership as a journey and not a mere position. Being in control of any situation. Crucial situations & moments Mahatma Gandhi’s, such as his dignified response when asked to ...

By Anupama Vaidya January 26. A momentous day holds a special place in the heart of every Indian marking the historic day when our nation formally adopted the Constitution, transforming into the Republic of India. Beyond the grandeur of celebratory events across the nation and the iconic parade, this day is intertwined with the fabric of our lives, echoing the journey of India’s struggle of freedom.   As the years unfold, and we grow to appreciate the privilege and experience of increased freedom. However, with this freedom comes a weight of responsibility settling on our shoulders. Republic Day serves as a poignant reminder that freedom is not just a privilege; it’s a profound duty to uphold shared values and contribute meaningfully to the well-being of all.   A moment to pause and reflect,  amidst the vibrancy of this Day. What does Republic Day mean to us personally? How does it influence our understanding of freedom and responsibility? These questions are not just a f...

By Anupama Vaidya.  As I wrapped up my day a few weeks ago, an unexpected opportunity unfolded – an engagement initiative with a team gathering. Given my familiarity with addressing groups, on request, I shared my insights for a few minutes before taking a seat. What followed next left me with a profound sense of fulfilment. Chinar, our protagonist, and the team’s technical manager, stepped up to the microphone and addressed the group with a seamless flow of thoughts, articulate expression, meaningful insights, leaving a lasting impression. It was magical to witness this transformation of an individual who just a few months ago, was struggling to express in English, with a strong colloquial accent, filler words and broken sentences being all over the place, difficult for other to understand what his intended message was, despite being a solid technical expert. Chinar’s current confident presence was truly remarkable;   the past 5-6 months, so well invested. Kudos to you Ch...

By Anupama Vaidya  In the wild realm of leadership conversations, I frequently hear leaders expressing their concerns about their team members lagging in embracing & embedding a strategic mindset as they grow. Years get added, Quality/Depth??? Resultant, almost the entire chain is operating significantly below their real role expectations; It’s like witnessing a corporate game of musical chairs gone awry! On the other hand, team members respond with a puzzled look and a dash of melodrama, "Hold up! I'm already juggling more tasks than a circus clown. What's the secret strategic sauce I'm missing here? I am doing everything to make things happen, what magic wand do you now expect?" It's like trying to find Waldo in a sea of responsibilities! Amid these insightful conversations, I found myself immersed in a dialogue with a manager, let’s call her Sukhi, the protagonist of our story today. Seizing the opportunity during a discussion about an employee poli...

By Anupama Vaidya with Alina Dongre. During a recent conversation, our team, Sunita, Alina, and myself, were delving into various topics, eventually being led to the multi-generational workforce. Being mothers to Gen Z, Sunita and I find it intriguing to have a Gen Z member on our team, Alina! We appreciate how she challenges our thinking at work, mirroring the way our daughters, Ishita and Tania, do so at home. Alina’s sharing of an interesting anecdote opened this conversation leading us to get thinking Alina’s sharing : Just day before, I was seated on a couch with my 5-year old niece, both of us so engrossed in watching her favourite beloved cartoon series “Noddy” on television. Unexpectedly, the TV screen went black due to a loss of signal. For a moment, I anticipated that my niece might feel upset about not being able to continue watching her show and now I have to be able to deal with the black-out!!! Much to my surprise, she promptly dashed indoors, grabbed her mother's...