.png)
Thank you to the 1,400 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 questions!
I hope reading
7 Questions with Manashi KUMAR
helps you in your leadership.
Cheers,
Jonno White
7 Questions with Manashi KUMAR
Name: Manashi KUMAR
Current title: Founding Business Director
Current organization: Genius Inside
As a corporate leader and HR strategist, I have been managing businesses and teams throughout my career, with a focus on creating winning teams and successful organizations. I have worked across a number of vertical sectors and industries, from retail and data measurement, to broadcast, media and entertainment.
While working as Chief of People and Strategy at BARC India, I created value through business and HR transformation, growing the company to twice the size and leading the organization to be voted ‘Great Place to Work’ within the media industry for three consecutive years.
In my current position as Founding Business Director & Chief of Transformation at Genius Inside, I bring my people and organizational skills to enhance lives by supporting them in their journey of self-development and discovery.
I have the experience to implement ideas and strategies, executing effective change which leads to modernization and increased productivity, as well as making social, marketing and product improvements to benefit the business as a whole.
With the ability to work alongside team members from every stratus of the company structure, I am a firm believer that diversity and inclusion are vital elements of an organization’s success. Everything starts with people and effective leadership is created through fostering talent at the company’s grassroots level, elevating team members through learning and personal development.
The purpose of this platform is to create a world-wide impact of self-transformation and offer truly life changing content. Delivered in an impactful way through video, great storytelling, fun assignments, and meaningful coaching, and create meaningful digital engagement and life changing indulgence.
I am a strong believer in Karma. I believe in the magic of love, family and friends.
.
1. What have you found most challenging as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise?
To build a complete envelope of trust. It's easier said than done. People are most effective when they can be completely themselves and bring their full identity to work.
2. How did you become a CEO or executive of a large enterprise? Can you please briefly tell the story?
Many of us have goal posts and those then become the stepping stones to success. In my case, it was a journey that kept unfolding at every step. New opportunities kept coming which were always challenged by the status quo and pushed me out of my comfort zone. Nothing happens if you don't leave your comfort zone. Actually, your comfort zone is quite uncomfortable :) So the path so far has been very simple. Keep an open heart and mind and keep building and strengthening your personal leadership journey
3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?
It took me some time to reach here. I follow simple rituals these days.
1. Waking up early
2. Keep away from social media for an hour in the morning
3. Write down in a journal what do you want to accomplish that day
4. Move your body
4. What's the most recent significant leadership lesson you've learned?
Many lessons learnt but one that stayed with me. If you are a leader today, your only job is to bring out the best in others!
5. What's one book that has had a profound impact on your leadership so far? Can you please briefly tell the story of how that book impacted your leadership?
There are quite a few so very difficult to choose but the one that I am reading now is indeed a must-read for all - Trillion-dollar coach by Eric Schmidt. I would also recommend everyone to get a coach and a mentor. It really helps in all stages of your work life. This book talks about the legacy of growing companies and why some people are successful and some are not. It focuses on how you can develop trusting relationships, work on personal growth and have the courage to do the right thing!
6. How do you build leadership capacity in a large enterprise?
It all starts with first building a great culture. By empowering managers to build an environment that supports, retains and attracts happy employees, enterprises can build leadership capacity. Nothing shakes up as culture does. Happy Culture= Happy people = great leaders. Culture is not a verb, it's a noun so it requires action every day.
7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a CEO or executive of a large enterprise so far?
When you work amongst people, you take home a story practically every day. Across all my stints, there have been those days when you need to take a hard decision or ask someone to go. I always took pride in the way I have handled separations. It's ok to let someone go, but it's very important to let the person keep his respect. So there have been many such stories where I am still connected with those people whom I had to let go of. I will always say this- if you have to let people go, be generous, treat them well and celebrate their accomplishments.