I was glad to reconnect with Mr. Raghunathan Ramarao a few weeks ago at a Rotary meeting. Our previous interactions had been nearly a decade back, so it was good to sit down with him over dinner and have a discussion. In our conversation, what struck me the most was his genuineness and the sincerity to make a difference in the lives of the less privileged. 

Just like any normal person, he could have led a comfortable life. Having worked with top MNCs and large corporations, it would have been easy to continue on that path. Instead, he chose a different route. In 2012, he started Kalpavriksha Seva Trust and since then has transformed 750+ lives through free education, skill development and community empowerment.

What stood out even more was that it is not just him. His entire family is involved in service, making it a shared commitment rather than an individual effort.

Here are three takeaways that stayed with me from this interaction. 

1. Being Prepared

Within an hour of our interaction, he sent across all details about the trust, the work they are doing and relevant video links. This clearly showed that everything was already in place. The documents were ready. The narrative was clear. There was no hesitation in sharing.

This was a big lesson for me.

Quite often, we don’t know whom we are going to meet and when. But it always helps to be prepared with our credentials, stories and proof of work. At the same time, this did not feel like a random forward. I am assuming it was shared after his own quick assessment. It was not a spray and pray approach, but a well thought out and intentional follow-up. On a personal note, I made a mental note to adopt this method. The intention was always there on my part but what lacked was consistent execution and speed of response.

2. Compassion

In a larger social context, many of us are inclined towards charity, philanthropy, or even social service. Many stop at sympathy or empathy. Compassion goes further. But only a few take that one extra step. It is the point where feeling becomes a willingness to act, consistently and without expectation. It is not a question of resources but one of heart and mindset. This compassion is what truly stood out during the interaction. Moving from a successful corporate career to dedicating time and effort towards social impact is not an easy shift. It requires a deep sense of purpose.

What struck me even more was the clarity with which he spoke about the trust and its beneficiaries. There was quiet conviction and genuine concern for creating long-term impact. The work done through the trust reflects a sincere commitment towards people and communities. It is not transactional or event-driven. It is a sustained effort over years. Compassion, in this context, is not just a feeling. It is a consistent action.

One more aspect that stood out was how deeply service has become part of the family’s value system. It is not restricted to one individual taking initiative. The involvement of the entire family sends a strong message about shared purpose and collective responsibility. When service becomes a shared value within a family, the impact naturally becomes larger and more sustainable. It moves beyond isolated acts of goodness and evolves into a culture.

The impact created through the trust is therefore not limited to direct beneficiaries alone. When one life is transformed through education or skill development, it creates a ripple effect across families and communities.

In many ways, this is also how meaningful legacies are built. Not through words, but through values practiced consistently over time.

Closing Reflection

Leadership is not always about scale or visibility. Sometimes, it is about quiet consistency, preparedness and the intent to make a difference.

My interaction with Mr. Raghunathan Ramarao reinforced a simple thought. When professionalism meets compassion and when intent is backed by action, the impact can be both meaningful and lasting.

I first met Datuk Seri M. Saravanan around 2018. At that point, it was purely an introduction with no particular depth to it. I used to accompany my Rotary friends when they went to meet him and I was more of an observer than a participant in those early interactions.

Probably one of the first things I noticed was quite simple. He is a foodie. He genuinely enjoys exploring different cuisines. Being a foodie myself, I could immediately relate to that. In fact, many of the initial interactions happened over meals accompanying our Rotary friends to different restaurants whenever Datuk was in Chennai. Food, as it often does, created an easy and natural common ground.

But over time, that changed. The acquaintance slowly evolved into a relationship. The meetings became more frequent, the conversations more open, and what started as a formal interaction began to reveal the layers of the person behind the public image. I began to observe qualities that define leadership in a much deeper and quieter way.

He has also been a strong supporter of our Seyal forum and has been its patron for several years now. We had the opportunity to recognize him with an award through Rotary. Over the years, I have met him on multiple occasions, in different settings, across cities and even countries including the inauguration of the Singapore Chapter in November 2025, where he was the Chief Guest.

Three qualities about him that stand out for me.

1. A True People's Leader

He is almost always surrounded by people. But what is interesting is not the crowd. It is how he engages with them. There is no visible hierarchy in his interactions. He speaks to everyone. He listens. He acknowledges. There is a certain warmth in the way he connects with people that does not feel forced or political. It feels genuine and that distinction is not a small one.

One instance that stands out is from the COVID period. Many Malaysian Tamilians were stranded in Chennai due to the lockdown. It was a deeply uncertain time, travel was restricted overnight. With flights being cancelled, anxiety was high and people were far from home with no clear answers. During that phase, he took significant personal efforts to ensure their safety and well-being. There are many such instances I could point to, but what matters more than the actions themselves is the intent behind them.

Leadership, in such moments, is not about position or visibility. It is about responsibility and the willingness to show up for people even when no one is watching.

2. He Values Friendship

In many public roles, relationships tend to become transactional over time. Meetings are scheduled. Conversations are measured. Interactions are often driven by necessity rather than genuine connection. But with him, there is a visible and consistent effort to maintain friendships beyond the formal context. He remembers people. He stays connected. He makes time and that, in itself, says a great deal about him.

I have had the opportunity to meet him along with a small group at his home. In that setting, away from public events and formal gatherings, he was a perfect host - warm and  attentive. That ability to transition from a public leader to a personal friend, without effort or pretence, is a quality that is rare.

3. Energy That Sustains

Energy is an underrated leadership trait. Not the performative kind that appears on stage and disappears backstage, but the kind that remains consistent regardless of the setting or the hour. There is no visible fatigue in how he interacts with people. No drop in enthusiasm. No sense of disengagement. Perhaps the positive people around him play a role in sustaining that energy. 

I have seen him at the airport well past midnight, after long and demanding travel schedules, engaging with the same ease as he would at any formal event. He also maintains his physical fitness with evident discipline. I am not entirely sure how he finds the time for it, but it reflects something important. Discipline, more often than not, sits quietly behind sustained energy and sustained energy is what keeps a leader going long after the initial enthusiasm has faded.

Over the years, what started as a casual introduction over shared meals turned into a series of meaningful observations across very different settings. Not every leadership lesson comes from a structured conversation or a formal exchange. Sometimes, it comes from simply watching how a person shows up - consistently, unhurriedly, and with the same warmth across situations, across years, and across the distance that time can often create.

A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to meet Rotary International Director (RID) and incoming Rotary International (RI) Vice President Rtn. AKS Muruganandam M (MMM). It is a matter of pride that a leader from Tamil Nadu is stepping onto the global stage. He is the fourth Indian and the first person from Tamil Nadu to become the Vice President of Rotary International. Leadership journeys like these do not happen by accident. They are built over decades.

I have known him for the past few years, much before he became RI Director. During our interaction, I also shared my experience as an Assistant Governor in Rotary District 3233. What stood out in our conversation was not about positions, but perspectives. At that level of responsibility, clarity of thought, prioritisation, and disciplined execution are not optional, they are essential.