Anand Saravana Raj - Insights #Leadership

Resilience Personified - Ms. Sugitha

Thu, 19 Mar 2026 12:00:26 +0530

Leaders I Met: Resilience Personified - Ms. Sugitha

In a recent online meeting, Ms. Sugitha Sarangaraj spoke about her experiences as a journalist in covering the devastating floods of Chennai in 2015. Yes, 2015 is a year that will remain fresh in the minds of Chennaiites for a long time. This natural disaster tested the city's spirit and brought out extraordinary stories of human courage and commitment. As she spoke, it brought back memories - the sense of helplessness, the chaos, revival of hope and so on. It occurred to me that leadership is not just about executing one's job role. Quite often, it is established when one goes beyond the call of duty.

The question then is, what drives them? Is it just passion for the job or much more? There is much more to it. It could be a burning resolve to raise the bar or a genuine empathy for the people and stories that matter.

Ms. Sugitha Sarangaraj embodies all of this.

I later had the opportunity to meet her in person. What followed was one of those rare conversations that sweeps across many topics at once — artificial intelligence and its implications, the ethics of reporting in a world of misinformation, the critical importance of fact-checking, the vulnerabilities in cybersecurity and much more. She moved through each topic with the ease of someone who thinks deeply and reads widely.

Three qualities about her that struck me were:

1. Choose the Path Less Trodden

It is easy enough to stay within one's comfort zone and still build a remarkable career. But it takes a different order of willpower and determination to make your mark while walking a more difficult path. She has done exactly that. Every time someone implied that a particular role or beat wasn't meant for a woman, she didn't step aside. She rose to the occasion and excelled at it. That quiet, consistent defiance is itself a form of leadership.

2. Set Your Own Bar

Forget the glass ceiling, set your own ceiling seems to be her mantra. Not just that, she simply kept raising it. She didn't wait for society to define what success looks like for her. She has been consistently breaking stereotypes and upping her own standards, measuring herself not against external benchmarks but against her own best work. That is a rare and powerful kind of ambition.

3. An Unquenchable Thirst for Knowledge

In a media landscape that is shifting faster than almost any other field, she is constantly investing quality time in learning and upgrading her skills. It is not a checkbox exercise. It is a genuine intellectual curiosity that keeps her sharp, relevant, and ahead of the curve. In a world of shortcuts, that kind of commitment to growth is both rare and admirable.

What this means is that true leadership rarely announces itself. It doesn't wait for the right title or the right moment. It shows up in the middle of a flood, in the choice to take the harder road, in the quiet discipline of learning something new, the steely determination. She is a reminder that some of the most meaningful leaders are not just in boardrooms. They are out in the field, asking the uncomfortable questions, telling the stories that need to be told and inspiring others simply by the way they choose to live and work.

My interaction with Sugitha Sarangaraj reinforced a simple thought. When passion is combined with purpose, resilience and continuous learning, it creates a form of leadership that quietly stands out.

Energy in Action – Thiru. Sekar Babu

Thu, 12 Mar 2026 09:03:58 +0530

Leaders I Met: Energy in Action – Thiru. Sekar Babu

I had the opportunity to meet, the Hon' Minister for HR&CE, Govt of Tamil Nadu, Thiru P.K.Sekar Babu. Depending on the political spectrum one is, we tend to have strong ideologies and form opinions about people whom we may not even know. This bias is there with nearly everyone, including me. But when you start interacting and get to know the person behind the designation, power, or position, it could be an entirely different story altogether. This is what I learnt from the interaction.

1. Energy

Always up early and always with a smile. Being a politician is mostly a 365-day job and you have to be up to date 24 by 7. No doubt they have to keep themselves fit and healthy. But beyond that, not everyone is the same. A few have their energy levels up a notch and are able to carry it throughout the day.

2. Multitasking

This goes with the role no doubt. I'm not a big fan of multitasking and prefer deep work over handling too many tasks. In business too, leaders often have to juggle multiple priorities. But this is entirely different. Managing such disparate related work - department related, constituency related, party related, other general work etc is truly amazing. He is constantly on his toes and allocates quality time to ensure each issue is taken care of. I witnessed this first-hand. Within a short span of 10–15 minutes, at least 6 different people were given clarifications, instructions, or guidance related to their work.

3. Keep smiling

Irrespective of the nature of the conversation with the previous person, he welcomes the next person with a huge smile that immediately makes them feel welcomed and at ease. He doesn’t differentiate. However big or small the person is, he receives them with warmth. I think this is something many business leaders miss out on with their own employees.

Leadership often reveals itself in small behaviours rather than big speeches. Energy, the ability to manage multiple responsibilities and treating every person with warmth are qualities that stand out when you observe closely. My interaction reminded me that behind every designation or position there is a human being and sometimes the lessons we learn from them are simple but powerful.

Quiet Clarity in Investing

Thu, 05 Mar 2026 14:11:53 +0530

Quiet Clarity in Investing - Chandrashekar Kupperi

I had the opportunity to meet Mr. Chandrashekar Kupperi, Founder of ANOVA Corporate Services Pvt Ltd and General Partner at Peaceful Progress. As I am currently writing a book on fundraising, I felt it was important to understand investor expectations more deeply. And who better to speak to than Mr. Kupperi, who has spent years working closely with founders and investments.

My early interactions with him were around 2017–18, after which we lost touch. Recently, I happened to meet him again at a common pitch event, which helped reignite the association. There is a lot one can learn from him, but I will restrict this reflection to three things that stood out during our interaction.

1. Humbleness

Polite to a fault. That is probably the first thing anyone who has met him would say. He has a knack for putting the other person at ease. Within a few minutes of conversation, it feels as if one has known him for a long time. The gratitude he expresses is sincere and genuine.

2. Stickler for details

I'm reminded of the saying, "The devil is in the details." This is very true, particularly in the investment sector. One thing that clearly stood out during our discussion was his attention to detail. Whether it is evaluating a business model, understanding numbers or examining assumptions behind projections, he looks beyond the surface. Investors often see hundreds of proposals, but what differentiates a strong or weak opportunity is usually hidden in the finer details.

3. Business sense

Beyond numbers and analysis, what impressed me was his practical business sense. Years of experience across industry sectors and the varied roles he has played, have shaped him into what he is today. This gives him an edge when evaluating investment proposals and gives him the ability to quickly understand where value lies and where risks may emerge. It is a combination of experience, pattern recognition and grounded judgement.

This interaction reminded me that experience reveals itself not through loud statements, but through quiet clarity of thought. Conversations like these are valuable when one is trying to understand how investors think and evaluate opportunities. As I continue writing my book on fundraising, insights from people like Mr. Kupperi help bring practical perspective to the subject. This is exactly the intent behind the “People I Met” series, to capture such interactions and the ideas they leave behind.

More reflections from the “Leaders I Met” series coming next Thursday.

Leadership at Global Scale - Rtn. Muruganandam M (MMM)

Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:10:00 +0530

Leadership at Global Scale - Rtn. Muruganandam M (MMM)

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.

Three lessons I have learnt from him

In every interaction, certain traits quietly reveal themselves. Over time, three such qualities have stood out to me. What makes them even more relevant is that these are not traits reserved for global leaders alone. They are equally applicable to MSME founders and business owners. As businesses grow in size and complexity, the same principles of clarity, delegation and grounded leadership begin to determine whether growth becomes sustainable or stressful.

1. Focus

He has been a go-getter from a very young age. Despite hurdles and setbacks, he has maintained an unwavering clarity of thought that translates into decisive action. This clarity enables him to execute his plans with precision and intent.

2. Art of Delegation

He is the Managing Director of Excel Group of Companies, a diversified group with interests ranging from logistics to infrastructure. Alongside that, he carries significant Rotary commitments. Managing scale requires systems. It requires building capable teams. It requires trusting people while maintaining accountability. Seamless execution across multiple domains does not happen through control alone. It happens through structure.

3. Humbleness

Despite the scale of growth and increasing responsibilities, he remains grounded and accessible. The higher leaders grow, the more important this quality becomes. Humility allows learning. Learning sustains growth.

Leadership journeys like these remind us that scale is not an accident. It is the outcome of years of disciplined thinking, consistent execution and the ability to adapt without losing clarity of purpose. Titles may change and responsibilities may expand, but the underlying principles remain the same.

For MSME founders and business leaders, the lesson is simple -

Growth demands structure

Scale demands delegation
Longevity demands humility

The fundamentals of leadership do not differ between global institutions and growing enterprises. The context may change, but the discipline required does not. Observing leaders at that level reinforces one belief strongly, sustainable growth is always built on clarity, systems and character

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