Inspiring Leaders Redefining the Future – 2025.pdf

Inspiring Leaders Redefining the Future – 2025” spotlights visionary changemakers transforming industries through bold ideas, resilience & purpose.

5. very great story begins with a turning point. For
E
many leaders, it is the moment they choose to step
outside their comfort zone and embrace challenges
that test their courage. What sets them apart is not only their
ability to dream, but also their will to keep moving forward
when the road gets uncertain.
The world today needs leaders who understand that true
success is measured not just by personal achievements but by
the lives they touch. These are individuals who stand firm in
their values, yet remain open to learning and evolving. They
build not only businesses, but also communities of trust,
collaboration, and hope. Their journeys are reminders that
leadership is not about titles. It is about responsibility,
empathy, and vision.
Each story we encounter is a reflection of perseverance. Some
leaders rise from humble beginnings, carrying with them the
lessons of patience and persistence. Others channel years of
expertise into creating opportunities that leave a lasting mark.
What unites them is a shared belief that progress is possible
when one dares to take the first step.
Leadership is never a straight line. It is marked by trial, error,
and discovery. The inspiring part lies in how these individuals
continue to adapt, to innovate, and to guide others through
change with a steady hand. They remind us that tomorrow is
shaped not by chance, but by deliberate action taken today.
In this latest edition, Inspiring Leaders Redefining the
Future - 2025, we highlight voices that continue to shape
industries, uplift people, and open doors to new possibilities.
These leaders stand as reminders that progress is never
accidental. It comes from choices made with conviction, from
resilience in the face of setbacks, and from the vision to
create something larger than oneself.
Have a great read ahead!
Walking
the Path
of Purpose

6. Editor In Chief -
Senior Editor -
Executive Editor -
Visualizer -
Art and Design -
Vice President -
Sales Manager -
Team Leader -
Operation Manager -
Technical Head -
Digital Marketing -
Sara Nethan
Mark Levine
Jessica Grey
Johan Marshall
Kiran Kamble
Kathleen Lewis
Akshay Dokh
Manthan Tambe
Tracy Oliva
Chris Dey
Ritu Baviskar
PRIMETODAY
THE
EXCELLENCE IN EVERY EDITION

8. C
o
v
e
r
s
t
o
r
y
Amb.Dr. Rajib Acharya
10

9. Amir
Vashkover
A R T I C L E S
C
O
N
T
E
N
T
Leadership vs Management:
The Key Differences Explained
Top 7 Leadership Styles and
How to Select the Correct One
40
24
Dr. Haleema
Yezdani
Neha
Sharma
Shivinder
Sharma

18. What defines Amir is his ability to
bridge high-stakes decision-making
with practical solutions. At Philips, this
translates into security strategies that
enable growth and innovation while
protecting sensitive information. His
leadership ensures that digital
transformation is not a risk but an
opportunity, and that every initiative
aligns with a purpose larger than
technology itself.
Amir Vashkover's journey shows that
principles forged in service can guide
leadership in any arena. By combining
discipline, technical acumen, and a
commitment to people, he secures the
digital world while inspiring those
around him to embrace challenges with
precision and confidence.
The Spark of Vision
Amir believes that the people
surrounding an individual play the
greatest role in shaping purpose and
drive. When trust, support, and
empathy are extended, they naturally
inspire reciprocation. The principle
reflected in Newton's Third Law of
Motion for every action, there is an
equal and opposite reaction guides,
motivates, and focuses him on
improving the world each day.
Years ago, a sudden call from a long-
time mentor offered Amir a senior
position at a young cybersecurity
startup. The opportunity carried
immense potential alongside
significant risk. He accepted the offer
with boundless motivation.
This decision became the catalyst for
his vision of the future. He realized
that extraordinary achievements
emerge only when individuals step out
of comfort. To shape the future, one
must embrace reinvention and venture
into the unknown. This mindset of
courage and constant renewal
continues to drive how Amir leads,
innovates, and imagines the years
ahead.
Purpose Drives Leadership
Persistence serves as a powerful force,
but purpose guides every step in the
right direction. Consistency plays a key
role in leadership, shaping the way
decisions are made, communication is
delivered, and behavior is
demonstrated. Adhering to high ethical
standards ensures that actions remain
aligned and reliable.
At the same time, successful leaders
maintain a balance between steadfast
consistency and creative flexibility.
This equilibrium allows them to think
innovatively while remaining grounded
in principles. Leadership extends
beyond ego or authority; it is a role
defined by responsibility. People
choose to follow, support, and draw
inspiration from a leader rather than
being compelled.
When faced with uncertainty, Amir
emphasizes a mindset of
service—serving the vision, the team,
and the greater good. This approach
guides decision-making with integrity
and a long-term perspective, keeping
fear from dictating actions and
ensuring leadership remains
purposeful.
Leadership Responsibility Trust
Visibility is a privilege, but it is also a
responsibility. When the world is
watching, words and actions carry
greater weight, which means one must
be intentional. For Amir, this
responsibility comes down to two
things: transparency and
accountability.
Leadership today is less about being a
heroic figure and more about building
D
iscipline and focus are not
learned overnight. For Amir
Vashkover, these qualities
were honed in the military, where
every decision carried weight and
preparation determined success. That
same mindset now guides his work in
cybersecurity, where stakes are equally
high and precision is critical.
At Philips, Amir leads Data Security,
forming enterprise-wide strategies to
protect the company's digital
transformation. From adopting
generative AI technologies safely to
building robust security programs, he
ensures innovation moves forward
without compromising safety. What he
brings from his military experience is
mission-driven leadership: a
commitment to protecting people,
processes, and data with the same rigor
he applied to leading troops in complex
situations.
Over 20 years, Amir has held global
roles spanning technical, business, and
leadership responsibilities. He has built
professional services teams, led
strategic alliances, and developed
programs that strengthen cybersecurity
on a global scale. For him, success is
measured not just by technical
solutions but by the people and teams
empowered to execute them. Strong
teams, he believes, are the most
resilient defense against evolving
threats.
Beyond his professional achievements,
Amir maintains a life of discipline and
endurance. He is a triathlete and
marathon runner, constantly
challenging himself physically, while
long-distance motorbike rides offer
space for reflection and clarity. He also
volunteers as a certified EMT with the
Red Cross, extending his mission-
driven approach to serve the
community.

19. Amir
Vashkover
Defending Data, Enabling Progress
Builds Global Security
Programs and Teams
to Protect Philips'
Digital Assets!

20. gives Amir confidence and motivation
to overcome it. He listens to feedback
and other perspectives carefully,
recognizing their importance.
This approach is especially true with
transformative technologies such as
GenAI. Resistance often arises from
fear, fear of replacement, fear of losing
control, or fear of the unknown. To
lead effectively, Amir addresses these
concerns directly, helping people view
GenAI as a tool that augments human
creativity and efficiency rather than a
threat.
To inspire others, he acknowledges the
challenges as real. He emphasizes the
purpose behind actions and the
possibilities that emerge when
persistence continues. He believes in
leading by example, understanding that
when people observe calmness, focus,
and consistency during difficult times,
they gain permission to believe that the
storm will pass.
Leadership as Example and Impact
Leadership is something hard to define
but easy to identify. For Amir, one of
the most challenging yet meaningful
leadership roles is with those most
important to him his children. It can be
the most complicated thing or the
simplest thing. He simplifies it by
saying, “Leadership is to be a role
model for your kids and make them
proud of you.”
In the business world, he often uses
this measure of leadership: “When
your leader joins a meeting you are
leading – do you feel relief or
anxiety?”
Managing Risk with Clarity
Amir believes there is risk in
everything people do. To completely
collective ownership. His
responsibility is to ensure ambition
never blinds the organization to ethics,
sustainability, or the human impact of
decisions. When people trust someone
with leadership, they trust them with
their time, their careers, and their
hopes, and that accountability is
something Amir never takes lightly.
This is especially relevant today, as
technologies like GenAI reshape entire
industries. While GenAI enables
extraordinary possibilities, it also
brings questions of trust, bias, and
accountability. As a leader, Amir
ensures these tools are applied
ethically and transparently. Technology
should accelerate progress but never at
the cost of people's confidence. When
people trust someone with leadership,
they trust them with their time, their
careers, and their hopes, and that
accountability is something Amir never
takes lightly.
Making the Impossible Possible
Amir often says that anyone can “kill”
a good idea. Therefore, “impossible”
exists only as one perspective. He
nurtures ideas in three ways:
1.Breaking them into milestones –
Even the boldest vision becomes
achievable when divided into
small, measurable steps.
2.Building the business case –
Resources are always limited:
time, budget, knowledge, and so
on. Prioritization is key, and
demonstrating value-for-money
makes ideas viable.
3.Iterating constantly – Impossible
ideas rarely arrive fully formed.
They evolve through testing,
feedback, and refinement.
Amir observes that technologies like
GenAI help shorten the distance
between imagination and reality. What
once required months of research or
prototyping can now be accelerated in
days. These tools do not replace human
vision but amplify the ability to test,
refine, and create at scale.
He always reminds himself that “it is
always hardest to take the car out of
the parking lot.”
Staying Rooted Amid Doubt and
Resistance
Doubt and resistance form part of
every change. While uncertainty can
feel discouraging, resistance almost
always appears, and paradoxically, that

21. avoid risk, one would have to stop
acting.
He uses two principles to manage risks
effectively. First, he "cleans up the
noise" minimizing the weight of
isolated examples, arbitrary incidents,
advice from people one does not know,
or things outside one's control. Second,
he puts things into proportion and
"normalizes" the impact of risks. In
truth, very few things can affect what
truly matters the health and safety of
oneself and loved ones.
Daily Reminders That Keep Him
Grounded
Amir keeps two reminders at the core
of his daily life. The first comes from
Maslow's hierarchy the most basic
needs must always be prioritized.
Eating well, sleeping well, and
maintaining a healthy lifestyle are
essential. In the professional world,
this translates to respecting work–life
balance.
The second reminder is to never let
ambition overshadow kindness and
empathy. Before being a leader, he is a
human being, and staying grounded in
reminds himself that time is the most
precious resource and its value only
grows. That is why he should not
postpone today's dreams for tomorrow.
But the biggest thing Amir has had to
let go of is perfectionism. As a leader,
he quickly realized that one cannot
control every outcome nor should they.
To grow, a leader must trust others,
embrace failure as part of the process,
and accept that progress often comes in
imperfect steps.
Closing Thought - In His Words
My personal motto has always been:
“It's always either achievements or
excuses.” For me, this is not just a
phrase it's a guiding philosophy. We
can't control everything, but we can
control how we show up, how we
persist, and how we create value.
If I leave behind a legacy, I hope it is
one of courage to reinvent, integrity in
leadership, and unwavering belief in
the power of people to shape the future.
that perspective keeps everything else
in balance.
The Cost of Leadership
No true achievement comes from a
place of comfort. When someone feels
too comfortable for too long, they may
be missing something critical perhaps
even something harmful in the long
run.
Amir likes to use “tasty food” as a
metaphor. When the food is delicious,
it is often not the healthiest too much
sugar, fat, or salt. Similarly, if someone
feels like they are in the “best job ever”
for a very long time, it might be the
right moment to challenge themselves
and push towards the next level.
Comfort can sometimes move a person
away from the core into the “nice-to-
have” zone.
Another sacrifice is losing control of
time. With leadership comes many
commitments, and with that, time is no
longer fully one's own. Amir often

24. eadership and management are often
L
used as if they mean the same thing.
Yet, they play very different roles in
any organization. According to a Gallup study,
only one in ten people have the natural talent to
manage, while an even smaller percentage
excel at leading.
That means most organizations struggle to
balance both functions. Without clear
leadership, people lose direction. Without
strong management, systems break down.
Understanding where the two meet and where
they differ is what sets successful professionals
apart.
What is Leadership: The Bigger Picture
Leadership is about vision and influence. A
leader paints a picture of the future and inspires
others to work toward it. Think of someone like
Mahatma Gandhi. He had no official title of
authority in a corporate sense, yet he moved
millions through his vision and values.
Leadership goes beyond authority. It comes
from the ability to spark belief in others.
Leaders focus on long-term goals. They are
driven by change, innovation, and the need to
take people somewhere they have not been
before. Leadership is often future-focused.
What is Management: The Structural
Backbone
Management is about structure, process, and
execution. Where leadership sets the vision,
management makes sure it gets done. Imagine
a construction site. The architect is like the
leader who designs the vision, while the project
manager is the one ensuring materials arrive on
time, deadlines are met, and budgets stay in
check.
Managers are focused on order. They break
down complex goals into tasks and systems.
They ensure stability by setting rules,
processes, and guidelines. While leaders often
look at what could be, managers deal with what
is happening now. Without them, even the best
vision remains an idea.
Leadership
Management:
The Key Differences Explained
vs

25. Leadership vs Management: Key
Differences in Approach
The first major difference lies in
focus. Leadership drives change,
while management sustains
operations. Leaders ask questions like
“Where should we go next?”
Managers ask “How do we get there
safely and efficiently?”
Another difference is their
relationship with people. Leaders
inspire through trust and motivation.
Managers build relationships through
authority and responsibility. Leaders
often encourage experimentation,
while managers minimize risk.
Neither is superior. Both are
necessary for any organization that
wants to grow without collapsing
under chaos.

Leadership vs Management:
Decision-Making Styles
Leaders often make decisions based
on vision and intuition. They can see
patterns that others may overlook and
are comfortable taking bold steps into
the unknown. For instance, when
Steve Jobs pushed for the creation of
the iPhone, many thought it was
unrealistic. That decision shaped the
future of technology.
Managers, on the other hand, make
decisions based on data, structure, and
existing systems. They rely on proven
methods to minimize mistakes. In the
same Apple example, managers were
the ones who turned the iPhone idea
into a reliable, market-ready product
by coordinating engineers, suppliers,
and marketing teams.
Both styles of decision-making are
valuable. Vision without execution is
imagination. Execution without vision
is repetition.
Leadership vs Management: People
vs Processes
Leadership is people-centered. Leaders
focus on developing individuals,
unlocking their potential, and helping
them grow. A leader sees a person not
only for their current role but for what
they could become.
Management is process-centered.
Managers focus on efficiency, rules,
and accountability. They ensure tasks
are completed correctly and on time.
The difference can be explained
through a sports analogy. The coach
who motivates and inspires players is
the leader. The operations manager
who ensures training schedules,
logistics, and resources are in place is
the manager. The team needs both to
succeed.
Why Both Leadership and
Management are Important
Organizations that only have leaders
may move quickly but lack stability.
They may dream big but fail to deliver
results. On the other hand,
organizations with only managers may
run smoothly but remain stagnant,
unable to adapt to change.
A balance of both is essential. Leaders
bring vision, while managers bring
order. Together, they create progress. A
Harvard Business Review article once
explained it perfectly: leadership
without management can be chaos, and
management without leadership can be
lifeless.
Real-World Examples of Leadership
vs Management
Consider Elon Musk. His leadership
pushes Tesla toward ambitious goals
like space travel and renewable energy.
Yet, without strong managers inside
Tesla handling operations, supply
chains, and customer service, those
visions would collapse.
Look at any hospital. Doctors who
guide patient care with vision and
empathy act as leaders. Hospital
administrators who manage staff
schedules, budgets, and compliance
serve as managers.
How to Balance Leadership and
Management in Your Role
Many professionals find themselves
caught between the two roles. A team
leader in a corporate setting, for
example, may need to inspire their
team while also ensuring deadlines are
met. Balancing both requires self-
awareness.
Develop leadership skills by practicing
empathy, improving communication,
and sharing vision with others.
Strengthen management skills by
learning project planning, time
management, and performance
tracking.
The balance can also shift over time.
Startups often need more leadership
early on to set bold directions. As the
company grows, management becomes
critical to maintain structure.
Leadership and management are
different, but they are not opposites.
They are complementary forces that
work together to drive success.
Leadership is about vision, inspiration,
and change. Management is about
order, systems, and execution.

For anyone aiming to grow in their
career, the key is not to choose one
over the other, but to develop both.
Organizations need leaders who can
see the future and managers who can
make it real. When the two align,
progress is not only possible but
sustainable.

28. Dr. Haleema
Yezdani
A Lifeline Across Screens
How Dr. Haleema Uses
Technology to Transform
Healthcare Access!

29. n many remote villages, medical help arrives late,
I
sometimes too late. Families wait anxiously for
guidance that could save lives. It was in such a place
that Dr. Haleema Yezdani first realized the power of
telemedicine. A family reached her through a simple video
call during a critical health emergency. Step by step, she
guided them, and the relief and gratitude in their voices
stayed with her forever. That moment showed her that
technology could do more than connect, it could deliver
care, dignity, and hope.
Dr. Haleema had begun exploring virtual consultations long
before the pandemic made them essential. At the time,
skeptics doubted whether a screen could replace the human
touch of a clinic. Yet, her early experiences proved
otherwise. Every patient she guided reinforced a vision:
healthcare should reach every corner, without delay or
compromise.
Her personal health challenges added urgency to this vision.
She understood the value of timely medical access and saw
how digital tools could make that possible. When the world
faced the pandemic, the ideas she had championed became
vital for millions, validating the path she had chosen.
Today, Dr. Haleema focuses on building patient-centered
digital healthcare solutions that meet people wherever they
are. For her, technology is not an abstract innovation; it is a
bridge that transforms access into care, distance into
connection, and screens into lifelines.
Through her work, she proves that the future of medicine is
not only about technology, but about compassion delivered
in every interaction, whether in person or through a screen.
Guided by Purpose
Purpose has always served as a compass, providing
steadiness even when the path ahead feels uncertain. Dr.
Haleema holds a deep conviction that healthcare is a
fundamental right for every human being, accessible to all
regardless of location or resources. Every individual
deserves compassionate, timely, and dignified care. This
belief remains a constant guiding principle, shaping her
clinical practice, advocacy, and work in digital health.
Along her journey, challenges have appeared formidable,
limited infrastructure, resistance to new approaches in
delivering care, and occasional moments of self-doubt. Yet,
the patients who find hope and healing through accessible
care renew her strength. Their gratitude serves as a
reminder that medicine encompasses more than treating
illness; it restores dignity, nurtures trust, and preserves
human connection.
What continually drives Dr. Haleema is a vision of a
healthcare system where no one is overlooked, where
technology acts as a bridge rather than a barrier, and where
compassion leads the way in innovation. This sense of
purpose sustains resilience and determination, even during
times of uncertainty and self-questioning, keeping her
commitment to healthcare steadfast and focused.
Leading with Vision and Responsibility
In 2025, Dr. Haleema carries a profound sense of
responsibility, aware that the world observes not only her as
an individual but also the broader vision of patient-centered
digital health she represents. Visibility serves as a measure
of accountability rather than recognition. Every platform
she addresses, every initiative she leads, and every decision
she makes reflects a steadfast commitment to the patients,
colleagues, and communities that place their trust in her.
This trust holds a sacred significance, consistently
reminding her that leadership embodies service alongside
ambition.
Ambition drives Dr. Haleema to push boundaries and
reimagine healthcare for a future marked by equity and
compassion. Accountability anchors her work, ensuring that
innovation proceeds alongside ethics, safety, and the human
connection at the heart of medicine. Balancing these forces
requires humility, listening to patients, collaborating with
peers, and maintaining transparency in both successes and
challenges..
She emphasizes two principles to educate her peers:
1. Upholding humanity in every patient-centered
decision.
2. Embracing new technology to enhance patient
outcomes.
For Dr. Haleema, true leadership is measured by the
collective progress inspired rather than personal milestones
achieved. Her responsibility lies in using her visibility to
amplify voices, create opportunities, and build systems of
care that benefit communities at large.

30. Nurturing Vision into Reality
Every vision begins as a fragile seed of imagination. At
first, it may appear overly ambitious, uncertain, or
impossible. Dr. Haleema believes impossibility represents
only a temporary state until conviction and consistent effort
expand the boundaries of what is achievable. Nurturing
such ideas begins with returning to the “why,”
understanding why it matters, who it will impact, and what
difference it will make. That clarity provides the courage to
continue moving forward, even when the path remains
partially unseen.
This principle has been evident in healthcare, particularly
through telemedicine. When Dr. Haleema first entered the
digital space, many doubted whether virtual care could earn
trust or widespread acceptance. By protecting the idea with
resilience, nourishing it with persistence, and allowing
collaboration to provide the support it required, an
uncertain dream transformed into a tangible reality. Today,
telemedicine serves as a lifeline for countless patients.
The journey from imagination to reality, according to Dr.
Haleema, relies on steady, deliberate steps rather than
sudden leaps. Every challenge offers an opportunity to
refine the idea, every criticism strengthens it, and every
small success signals that the seed is growing. When
intention remains pure and vision is anchored in purpose,
even the most ambitious ideas flourish into realities that
touch lives and transform systems. Running telemedicine
helplines for organizations such as BENFA and AFIFA has
given this vision concrete form, exemplifying the true joy
of leadership, witnessing imagination blossom into
meaningful impact.
Acknowledging Change with Purpose
Doubt and resistance accompany every path of change.
When they arise, Dr. Haleema perceives them as signposts,
urging pause, reflection, and reconnection with the deeper
purpose behind the vision. Clarity emerges from returning
to the “why.” Why was this journey begun? Whose lives
will be transformed by its continuation? This reminder
provides stronger grounding than any external validation.
Strength comes from those served, patients, communities,
and colleagues. Their experiences reaffirm that the work
centers on creating access, dignity, and hope through
healthcare rather than personal ambition. Family also
provides a vital source of strength, particularly parents
whose dedication shaped her into the person she has
become. This shift in perspective transforms resistance into
energy, allowing communication with both conviction and
empathy, which naturally encourages others to join the
journey.
Resilience is cultivated through reflection, prayer, and
dialogue with mentors and peers. Leadership is exercised
with transparency, acknowledging challenges while sharing
the possibilities ahead. Witnessing both honesty and hope in
leadership inspires courage in others and sustains belief in
the vision.
Ultimately, each wave of doubt strengthens resolve. Every
challenge reinforces the importance of pursuing a vision
that tests the norm, demonstrating that persistence today
can transform resistance into acceptance tomorrow.

31. Leadership with Lasting Impact
Leadership often appears in immediate results, projects
completed, numbers achieved, or systems implemented.
Legacy, however, emerges in deeper ways: through the
enduring impact on lives and the values passed to those
who follow.
Dr. Haleema hopes that years from now, people will
remember not only the actions taken but also the purpose
behind them. She wishes to be recognized as a leader
guided by compassion, one who made healthcare more
accessible and humane, and who stood firmly in moments
of doubt to ensure patients and communities received
unrelenting care.
Her journey in telemedicine and digital health reflects this
vision. She aimed to break barriers, bringing care to
individuals who once believed it was beyond reach,
demonstrating that technology can carry empathy as
powerfully as it carries data. Equally important, she sought
to create spaces for others, particularly women in medicine
and emerging healthcare leaders, to dream bigger, step
forward, and extend the work further.
For Dr. Haleema, legacy revolves around trust. In an era of
transformation, she strives to lead with integrity, serve with
purpose, and leave pathways for others to build upon.
Leadership, she emphasizes, thrives through care,
compassion, and empathy.
One of her most unconventional decisions involved
embracing telemedicine long before it became widely
accepted. At that time, many believed medicine required
physical consultations, and virtual care faced skepticism
and resistance. Dr. Haleema recognized its potential to
bridge gaps, especially for patients in rural or underserved
communities who lacked alternatives.
Venturing into this uncharted territory required courage and
conviction, as it challenged traditional norms and
confronted doubts from peers and patients alike. Over time,
this choice redefined her purpose, not only as a clinician but
as a leader in digital health. It reinforced her belief that
healthcare extends beyond treating illness; it involves
reshaping systems to make care inclusive, accessible, and
patient-centered. This decision continues to anchor her
values: innovation with empathy, and progress with
responsibility.
Living with Clarity
In a world that moves with relentless pace, Dr. Haleema
maintains simple rituals that reflect her essence beyond her
leadership role. Each day begins with quiet moments of
reflection and prayer, offering clarity, grounding her
intentions in gratitude, and fostering a sense of calm. She
dedicates uninterrupted time to her family, whose presence
serves as a reminder of the values she embodies and the
reason she chose a healing profession.
Reading and journaling hold a special place in her routine,
providing space to process experiences with honesty and
humility. These practices sustain her humanity and allow
her to bring authenticity into every environment where she
leads. Dr. Haleema also prioritizes respect for time,
punctuality, and discipline, recognizing their significance in
both personal and professional spheres.
In Her Own Words - The Cost of True Commitment
“Success is often admired, but the sacrifices behind it are
rarely visible. For me, one of the greatest sacrifices has
been time, precious moments with family, personal rest, and
the comfort of slowing down. There were countless evenings
that stretched into long nights, birthdays I could not attend,
and milestones I quietly missed because responsibility
demanded otherwise. These choices were not easy, but they
became part of the path I had chosen.
Embracing telemedicine early in my career was one such
defining sacrifice. At a time when many dismissed its value,
I chose to take the risk, knowing it would demand long
hours of learning, advocacy, and overcoming skepticism. I
had to let go of the security of traditional practice and face
the discomfort of building something new with limited
acceptance. It was often a lonely journey, but one that
taught me courage, resilience, and conviction.
What I gained in return was far more meaningful: a chance
to make healthcare more accessible, to bridge gaps for
patients who had no other options, and to shape the future
of digital health. Leadership, I have learned, is not about
what we hold on to, but about what we willingly surrender
so others can rise.”
The most important sacrifice that I personally feel is
missing quality time with my daughter, though I try my best
to cover this, but there have been issues at times.

34. How a courtroom
expert fuels ethical
growth at Corporate.

35. NEHA
SHARMA
Guiding Business with Law and Integrity
For her, legal work goes beyond avoiding risks. It means
shaping policies that support transparent operations and
foster long-term relationships, with customers, partners, and
employees alike. In a hospitality business, where reputation
matters immensely, Neha's role ensures that trust remains at
the core.
She believes that law is a tool for positive change, a way to
protect the company's future by embedding fairness and
integrity into its everyday actions. Her job is to understand
the business fully and guide it through the complex web of
regulations without losing sight of its mission.
Neha's journey from courtroom advocate to corporate guide
shows how law can be a foundation for real growth. Her
work at Barbeque Nation is a reminder that the strongest
businesses are built not just on good products but on values
that stand the test of time.
The Influences That Shape a Legal Mind
One of the most formative influences in Neha's career was
growing up around people who valued discipline and
fairness. Early in her career, she worked on high-stakes
uilding a strong business is much like preparing a
B
perfect meal, it requires the right ingredients,
careful attention, and respect for the process. At
Barbeque Nation, where every dish is crafted to bring
people together, trust and consistency are key. Behind this
smooth experience is more than just chefs and servers; it is
also a careful framework of rules and decisions that keep
the company honest and growing. This is where Neha
Sharma steps in.
She knows that law is not only about courtroom battles but
about setting a firm foundation for a business to thrive.
With an LL.B. and an LL.M. focused on Corporate,
Commercial, and Business Laws, she spent over 7 years in
litigation, learning how to argue cases and think on her feet.
Yet, she realized that law's real power lies in guiding
companies to act responsibly and build lasting trust.
Switching from litigation to the corporate side was a
turning point. At Barbeque Nation Hospitality Ltd., Neha
applies her legal knowledge to help the business grow
ethically and sustainably. She works behind the scenes,
making sure every decision aligns with legal standards and
moral values.

36. Challenging Tradition to Drive Legal
Innovation
As Neha works to bridge the gap
between law and technology, she
remembers a key moment early in her
career when she proposed overhauling
traditional legal workflows with
automation and specialized software.
Although, the idea was met with
skepticism.
However, she stood by her vision. The
change led to faster decisions, reduced
legal spend, and empowered internal
teams with better legal awareness and
quicker results. The reward was not
just operational but cultural as well.
She learned that innovation begins
with conviction, not consensus.
Strength Through Purpose and
Reflection
Neha explains that resilience is not
formed in courtrooms or boardrooms
but in moments when one chooses to
continue despite challenges. She has
encountered public scrutiny and
internal pressure, yet a clear
understanding of purpose has helped
her remain steady.
Reading serves as her anchor, with
books broadening her thinking,
vocabulary, and ability to communicate
effectively. They reinforce the idea that
every setback represents a moment in
time and that no single case outweighs
the importance of one's greater
purpose.
Leadership as Influence and
Mentorship
Neha believes leadership transcends
titles and is rooted in influence. She
has consistently embraced the principle
of lifting others while advancing in her
own career. Her guidance extends
beyond technical skills such as contract
Bridging the Gap Between Law and
Technology
Aligned with her commitment to
integrity, Neha recognizes a pressing
challenge where legal frameworks lag
behind fast-moving technology. Areas
such as fintech regulation, data privacy,
and digital disruption present
complexities where laws trail behind
innovation.
Through her work, she addresses this
gap by enhancing her expertise in
emerging fields like FinTech Law and
International Contract Enforcement.
Her focus remains on helping
organizations move beyond mere
compliance to becoming prepared for
future legal landscapes.
litigation matters, representing big
corporates before Courts & Tribunals.
That experience formed her mindset:
law must be precise, but it must also be
principled. Later, entering the
corporate space gave her a new lens, to
see law as a tool for collaboration,
innovation, and value creation. It is this
blend of courtroom clarity and
boardroom strategy that defines her
current philosophy: to be the lawyer
who listens, leads, and lifts not just
legally, but ethically and intelligently.
When Decisive Action Secures
Success
Building on the foundation shaped by
discipline and fairness, Neha recalls a
pivotal moment when a major deal
faced collapse due to a last-minute
legal challenge. While others hesitated,
she stepped forward, took charge, and
proposed a revised structure.
Her clear approach quickly gained
alignment from all parties involved,
ultimately saving the deal. She
emphasized that clarity, speed, and the
confidence to act when others hesitate
can make all the difference in critical
situations.
Integrity Above All
Following decisive action, Neha stands
firm on a principle she considers
essential, integrity. There have been
situations where commercial interests
clashed with compliance boundaries.
Instead of giving in to shortcuts, she
focuses on resolving issues through
communication because she believes a
lawyer's credibility is their biggest
currency. Ethics are not roadblocks;
they are roadmaps. Standing her
ground respectfully earns her respect in
return.

37. drafting, aiming to help colleagues discover their unique
legal voices.
Mentorship, for her, encompasses fostering the right
mindset, clarity, and confidence, values instilled during her
own upbringing. Watching those she mentors grow into
independent legal professionals provides a deeply
rewarding experience.
Standing Firm in Difficult Decisions
There was a time when Neha faced pressure to support a
course of action that seemed quick and commercially
convenient, but legally and ethically she could not align
with it. She stepped into that meeting with data in hand, law
on her side, and calm conviction in her voice.
She respectfully laid out an alternative path that took longer
but preserved the company's legal standing and brand
reputation. It was not the most popular choice at the time,
but eventually, it proved to be the right one. That
experience taught her that influence is not about pleasing
everyone; it is about standing steady when it matters and
building trust through truth.
Driving Legal Strategy Through Growth and Innovation
Neha treats legal strategy like growth hacking, involving
experiment, optimization, and adaptation. She uses tools to
streamline contract cycles, automate compliance tracking,
and integrate legal with business thinking.
Personally, she commits to ongoing learning, starting from
CS finals to international certifications in fintech and
contracting. Growth is not just what she does; it is also how
she thinks.
The Cost of Legal Excellence
Neha reflects on her journey, acknowledging the late nights,
missed birthdays, and emotional fatigue that accompany the
path she chose. These experiences have built her into a
sharper, stronger, and more grounded individual.
The sacrifices taught her discipline with time, emotional
balance, and the power of perseverance. These lessons have
influenced not only her career but also her character.
Guided by Truth, Structure, and Adaptability
In moments of doubt or uncertainty, Neha relies on three
core values to guide her decision-making as a legal mind of
influence. Truth serves as her anchor, keeping her grounded
in reality. Structure enables her to think with clarity and
order.
Adaptability allows her to evolve alongside the ever-
changing demands of the legal profession. Rather than
seeking perfection, she strives for precision, a well-defined
process, and clear purpose.
Redefining Legal Leadership for the Future
Neha wants to leave behind a new definition of legal
leadership, one that is tech-savvy, ethically grounded, and
strategically aligned. She envisions a future where in-house
legal teams are not just reactive support systems but
proactive value creators.
Every time she mentors, optimizes a workflow, or chooses
integrity over convenience, she moves one step closer to
that legacy.

40. generally operate in situations where
strict procedures are necessary, like the
military or those industries where
compliance is essential.
The strength of this style is speed.
Decisions are made quickly, and the
line of authority is well defined. But it
fosters dependency where the team
members do not bring suggestions, but
instead, wait to be told what to do. An
example where autocratic leadership
can work is a factory floor that has to
adhere to safety procedures because
clarity minimizes mistakes.
2. Democratic Leadership Style
Participation is the strength of
democratic leadership. Democratic
leaders encourage participation by
inviting inputs, promoting
collaboration, and making decisions as
a representative of the group's voice.
This leadership style works extremely
well in companies that prioritize
creativity, innovation, and collective
responsibility.
Research indicates that democratic
leaders tend to construct higher levels
of job satisfaction among their teams.
For instance, a marketing team
brainstorming for a new campaign can
perform well when all members feel
their opinions matter.
3. Transformational Leadership
Style
The transformational style of
leadership is one of inspiring change.
They inspire others through the
communication of a vision, the
establishment of challenging goals, and
encouraging individual development.
They are sometimes characterized as
visionaries who challenge people to
think differently and excel beyond
what was thought possible.
Top 7 Leadership Styles and
How to Select the Correct One
style, yet only using intuition can be
restrictive. Selecting the best
leadership style is a matter of knowing
what your team needs, what your
organization wants to achieve, and
what situation you are operating in.
Below are the best seven leadership
styles, how they operate, and advice on
selecting the one that suits your path.
1. Autocratic Leadership Style
Autocratic leadership is geared towards
centralized control where the leader
decides mainly. The style would
eadership has never been more
L
influential in making teams
and organizations successful,
yet the leadership style a person uses is
as important as his or her vision.
Research indicates that approximately
70% of variation in worker
engagement results directly from
leadership behavior. When leaders can
guide individuals in the right direction,
they are able to build loyalty, achieve
greater outcomes, and develop thriving
cultures.
All leaders tend by nature to a specific

41. Take the example of a startup founder
who inspires a small group of people
to work day and night towards
creating a product that has the
potential to revolutionize an industry.
4. Transactional Leadership Style
The transactional style of leadership
is based on structure, rules, and
rewards. Leaders establish clear
expectations and gauge success via
performance. Employees who
perform at or above expectations are
rewarded, whereas those who do not
deliver have consequences.
This style is effective in environments
where quantifiable outcomes are
needed, like sales forces or customer
care units. A sales manager who
meets monthly quotas and provides
bonuses for accomplishing them is
using transactional leadership, for
example.
5. Servant Leadership Style
The servant leadership approach
upends the conventional pyramid.
Leaders prioritize the welfare of their
people, seeking to support, empathize,
and develop. Rather than exercising
command power, servant leaders are
guides who invest in the good of their
people.
This approach tends to excel in
organizations where trust and long-
term relationships are highly valued.
A good example is a nonprofit
executive taking time to listen to
volunteers, hearing their concerns,
and making sure they feel
appreciated.
6. Laissez-Faire Leadership Style
The laissez-faire approach offers
autonomy and independence. Leaders
assign tasks, provide little direction,
and rely on team members to take care
of their job. This style succeeds when
teams are well-trained, self-driven, and
able to perform without close
observation.
Technology firms tend to employ this
style, particularly in creative functions
where workers enjoy independence.
The main risk is poor coordination. If a
boss fails to draw boundaries, the staff
will find it difficult to be answerable
and forget about group objectives.
7. Coaching Leadership Style
The style of coaching leadership is on
personal growth and development. The
leaders serve as coaches who facilitate
discovery of strengths, weaknesses to
be improved, and capabilities to realize
full potential.
For instance, a manager who conducts
regular one-on-one meetings to talk
about career aspirations, skill
development, and personal
development exercises coaching
leadership. This is a strong style
because it builds up people and, at the
same time, drives organizational
objectives.
How to Choose the Right Leadership
Style
Having an understanding of the various
leadership styles is only half the
solution. More critical is deciding
which style to use. Leaders tend to use
aspects of several approaches based on
circumstances. The following are some
issues to take into account:
1. Be aware of the needs of your team:
A group of skilled professionals might
do well with laissez-faire leadership,
whereas an intake of fresh recruits
could do with a more organized
transactional style.
2. Be sensitive to the organizational
culture: A company that is an
innovation-driven organization is
enhanced by democratic or
transformational leadership. An
organization concerned with
compliance and safety can require
more autocratic control.
3. Align the style with the challenge:
Crisis situations typically call for
decisive autocratic intervention.
Conversely, long-term initiatives
requiring commitment from a lot of
stakeholders are enhanced by
democratic or coaching leadership.
4. Understand yourself as a leader:
Self-knowledge is vital. Leaders who
know their strengths and weaknesses
can select styles that play to their
strengths while filling in their holes.
5. Remain flexible: The best leaders
never stay in one style for long. They
adapt depending on the situation,
mixing servant traits when establishing
trust and transformational traits when
seeking innovation.
Conclusion
Leadership is more a matter of leading
others to mutual success than of
possessing authority. The seven
leadership styles, autocratic,
democratic, transformational,
transactional, servant, laissez-faire, and
coaching, each have strengths and
weaknesses.
When leaders take time to understand
their teams, evaluate their
environments, and reflect on their own
tendencies, they create a balance that
serves both people and performance.
True leadership is a practice of
awareness and adaptability, and the
leaders who master this practice often
leave lasting impact.

44. very defining vision begins
E
with a spark. For Shivinder
Sharma, that spark lit up
during his time at Nike India.
Tasked with leading a digital
transformation project, he built a
distributor profitability model that
did more than measure
performance. It gave leaders a
window into the future. With data-
driven insights, the company was
able to take bold steps, including
closing underperforming stores
without financial setbacks. This
experience shifted his view of
finance from a passive record-
keeper to an active driver of
strategy.
SHIVINDER
SHARMA
The Strategic Face of Finance
Leading change
by blending
operational agility
with investor
confidence!

45. outcomes, but a compass that translates complexity into
direction.
What drives his decisions, even when the path ahead is
unclear, is the belief that finance can illuminate the signal
amid the noise. It can help organizations look ahead,
anticipate risks, and prepare for opportunities. This belief
gives him the confidence to act with conviction when others
hesitate, enabling businesses to build resilience and create
enduring value through uncertainty.
Balancing Visibility and Responsibility
Visibility carries with it a profound responsibility, one that
demands a balance between ambition and accountability.
Ambition fuels the drive to push boundaries, scale
businesses, embrace technology, and unlock opportunities.
Accountability ensures that every bold move is anchored in
governance, transparency, and trust. When ambition
advances without accountability, it risks becoming
unsustainable. When accountability stands without
ambition, it risks becoming static. True leadership emerges
when both are harmonized.
Throughout his journey, Shivinder has often been in
environments where the path forward was ambitious.
Preparing organizations for IPO readiness, embedding
technology-led transformation, restructuring for efficiency,
or scaling capacity rapidly to meet market demand, each
demanded courage, foresight, and speed. Yet ambition alone
did not suffice. It required the strength of accountability,
which meant building compliance frameworks, ensuring tax
and governance discipline, engaging proactively with
investors, and most importantly, developing people
capability by identifying and upskilling future leaders.
Having worked with entrepreneurial founders, multinational
leadership across cultures, and large diverse teams,
Shivinder has observed that trust remains the common
currency. Visibility makes one the custodian of this trust.
For him, the responsibility is clear: ambition must inspire
progress while accountability must protect trust. In his role
as CFO, he ensures these two forces remain aligned, so that
every bold step forward persists to be grounded in
governance, transparency, and long-term value creation.
Nurturing Impossible Ideas
Every vision begins as a seed of imagination, and Shivinder
believes that the true test of leadership lies in how one
nurtures that seed when the world around insists it cannot
At Nike, he also turned around the CSD business by
negotiating price increases and margin improvements. This
was a different kind of lesson. It showed him that finance is
not only about models and forecasts, it is also about
balance, understanding stakeholders, responding quickly to
constraints, and creating value even in pressured
environments.
That balance of foresight and agility became even more
visible during his leadership at Bira. There, he spearheaded
a full ERP implementation in just 90 days. At the same
time, he led a $50 million Series B fundraising effort. The
overlap of these two milestones revealed how finance
leadership extends far beyond managing accounts. It is
about building investor confidence, driving transformation,
and strengthening the operational backbone of a growing
company. The ability to deliver on both fronts underlined
that resilience and adaptability are central to effective
leadership.
From Nike to Bira, Shivinder's journey underscores a larger
truth. Finance is no longer limited to being a control
function. With the right application of technology and data,
it can become a catalyst for growth. It can prepare
companies for uncertainty, guide them to seize
opportunities, and help them build long-term value.
For Shivinder, this is the vision that persists to form his
work: finance as a forward-looking enabler, capable of
turning complexity into clarity, and challenges into
possibilities.
Purpose That Guides Decisions
The conviction has always been that finance is far more
than controllership, compliance, or reporting. With its vast
repository of data sharpened by business insights, finance
carries the unique ability to cut through ambiguity and
bring clarity to decision-making. It is one of the few
functions that can move with ease across business verticals
such as strategy, operations, and execution, because every
critical choice ultimately rests on facts, analysis, and
intelligent projections.
This belief has consistently anchored Shivinder through
periods of uncertainty. In multinational corporations, he has
challenged legacy ways of working with digital-first
models. In entrepreneurial ventures, where speed, agility,
and resource constraints demanded bold calls with
incomplete information, he relied on finance as a guiding
force. For him, finance has never been a passive recorder of

46. grow. Very early in his career, he was confronted with
challenges that appeared impossible. These included
disrupting telecom by making all incoming calls free,
integrating the accounting and controllership of four
independent entities into a unified shared service platform,
and driving fiscal discipline in industries where it seemed
unachievable due to the inherent nature of the business.
Through these experiences, he discovered that impossibility
is rarely about the idea itself. It is about the mindset with
which it is approached. He emphasizes the importance of
dimming the noise and focusing on the outcome. According
to him, this requires resilience to withstand resistance,
imagination to see past immediate constraints, and
discipline to ground every decision in both historical data
and forward-looking business insights. When these
elements align, what once seemed unthinkable gradually
transforms into new standards and best practices.
For Shivinder, nurturing the impossible does not mean
chasing bold visions recklessly. It means cultivating a
conviction that imagination, paired with preparation and
clarity of purpose, can move organizations forward. The
noise, he says, will always exist, but when ideas are
anchored in facts, formed with foresight, and carried
forward with people, the impossible not only becomes
possible, it often evolves into the next normal.
Staying Clear Amid Doubt
Doubt and resistance often surface whenever boundaries are
being pushed, and this has been a recurring theme in
Shivinder's professional journey across diverse areas of
finance. Shivinder's career began in commercial finance,
followed by controllership, then business finance and
FP&A, and today he works in broader stakeholder-facing
CFO roles. Each transition brought its share of scepticism,
moments of self-questioning about adaptability and
performance, and the challenge of stretching past a so-
called traditional scope.
He has led complex initiatives such as merging four
independent finance teams into shared services and
introducing technology in place of conventional methods of
interpreting data. These changes accelerated and
strengthened decision-making processes while also
demanding more than individual conviction. They required
him to inspire and commit his teams while addressing
stakeholder hesitations with clarity.
His belief in such transitions rests on 3 core pillars.
• The first is the ability to re-root himself in facts and
projections.
• The second is building conviction through evidence
and outcomes.
• The third, and perhaps the most significant, is aligning
people by listening to their feedback, demonstrating
quick wins, and ensuring they feel a sense of ownership
in the journey.
These principles have enabled him to lead teams toward
bold and transformative decisions.
As a CFO with experience across entrepreneurial ventures
as well as large conglomerates, he has discovered that doubt
never truly disappears. However, when approached with
clarity, discipline, and collaboration, it transforms into a
powerful force that drives progress and lasting change.
Legacy Beyond Outcomes
With over 23 years of experience across diverse industries
and cultures, Shivinder believes leadership is measured not
only by outcomes delivered but also by the impact it leaves
behind. For a CFO, this impact extends beyond financial
performance; it rests in bringing clarity during uncertainty,
driving transformation with conviction, mobilizing diverse
teams, and ensuring the organization grows stronger and
future-ready.
The four pillars that have shaped his journey are:
•Clarity of Purpose – It is less about beginning with all
the answers and more about creating direction where
little exists. Transforming ambiguity into near-term
priorities and long-term conviction has been central to
building resilient growth.
•Boldness in Action – While technology can handle the
routine, true transformation requires courage. It calls
for challenging norms, making tough decisions, and
turning resistance into meaningful results.
•Collaboration that Scales – Lasting change emerges
only when people move together. His focus has been on
creating ownership and alignment rather than imposing
direction.
•Stewardship of Legacy – Lasting impact comes from
balancing growth with governance. For Shivinder, it
means embedding cultures of discipline, adaptability,
and trust that endure longer than any system or leader.
In the end, it is never just quarterly results that matter most,
but the trust, resilience, and adaptability left behind.

47. Shivinder aspires to be remembered as
a CFO who turned complexity into
clarity, ambition into sustainable
growth, and diverse teams into an
enterprise prepared to thrive in a
dynamic future.
Courage in Unconventional Choices
The belief that financial excellence,
when combined with deep business
knowledge, enables a CFO to
transcend industry boundaries and
create meaningful value in any sector
has guided Shivinder's journey. Driven
by this conviction, his most
unconventional decision was to step
away from traditional finance and
move into business transformation. He
embraced the role of a change agent,
integrating advanced technology and
embedding processes designed to build
both resilience and scale.
At that time, the choice carried
significant risk. It meant leaving the
familiar territory of financial control
for the uncharted space of technology-
led transformation. However, as the
past 11 years have shown, that decision
has only strengthened his conviction
that CFOs are uniquely positioned to
drive change. They are more than
guardians of capital. They can lead the
adoption of disruptive technologies,
reshape processes, and create
organizations that achieve both
scalability and resilience.
Through his close work with private
equity investors and financial
institutions, Shivinder has witnessed
the value placed on a CFO who
balances governance with growth and
discipline with innovation. These
experiences have shaped his firm belief
that the modern CFO must be more
than a steward of numbers. A true CFO
is a catalyst, ensuring that the
enterprise is prepared for the future.
Rituals That Ground a Leader
The habits that keep him grounded
today were ingrained during his early
formative years. Long hours spent with
data taught discipline and attention to
detail. Time with ground teams
nurtured resilience and offered a real
understanding of execution challenges.
Observing senior leaders instilled
perspective and the strength to remain
steady even in the most demanding
environments.
Over time, Shivinder also discovered
the value of drawing inspiration from
family, mentors, and friends. Their
diverse perspectives often helped him
view challenges differently and
brought balance to his decision-
making. Finally, he believes that
pursuing a constructive hobby with
passion is essential. It allows one to
disconnect, recharge, and return with
clarity.
Sacrifices Behind Success
Over the years, Shivinder has come to
understand that the true turning points
in a career often arrive in the form of
sacrifices. They are never setbacks, but
carefully earned enablers of growth.
They demand movement away from
comfort, the building of resilience, and
the gaining of perspective required to
lead in complex and uncertain
environments.
The first turning point was deeply
personal. It came with the decision to
leave the familiarity of his hometown
and move to a metro city. This was
more than a change in geography. It
was a transformation of culture, pace,
and relationships. The transition
brought discomfort, but it compelled
him to adapt quickly, broaden his
worldview, and develop the strength to
thrive in environments far removed
from his comfort zone.
The second turning point was
professional. It involved a conscious
choice to value learning new skills
over relying only on his established
expertise in financial controllership.
This required stepping into business-
facing transformation roles, beginning
almost from the ground up, and
learning how to harness user
requirements through technology and
digital adoption. The shift was
demanding, yet it reinforced a vital
lesson: true leadership lies not in
holding tightly to what is already
known, but in relearning, adapting, and
enabling scale and resilience through
fresh capabilities.
The third crossroad was again
personal. It came with the move from
the comfort of a joint family into a
nuclear setup. This decision was never
about creating distance from his roots.
Instead, it was about building stability
for his immediate family while
balancing the growing demands of
professional life. It strengthened his
sense of responsibility and revealed
that leadership, much like family, is
about nurturing trust and providing
stability through periods of change.
Each of these choices carried a cost,
but together they became the unseen
foundation of his leadership journey.
They shaped resilience in moments of
uncertainty, adaptability during times
of change, and clarity of purpose when
decisions held long-term
consequences. If success is what the
world observes on the surface, then
these sacrifices remain the bedrock
beneath, moulding both his character
and his ability to lead with conviction,
foresight, and balance.

48. PRIMETODAYTHE
EXCELLENCE IN EVERY EDITION