Name: Anand Chandra

Title: Co-founder and COO

Organisation: Arya.ag

Anand is a graduate of Agricultural Sciences from AAI in 2002 (now SHUATS) and an MBA with a specialisation in Agri-Business Management from MANAGE in 2004. He has close to two decades of experience in Agri-commodity-based financing. He has been a part of ICICI Bank as the National Product Head for the Agri-Commodity Finance Business. He has been instrumental in developing the product and the associated processes for the bank since the inception of the product. Anand has been a part of the prestigious “Accessing Global Markets program at Cornell University.

He is the Co-founder and Executive Director for Arya.ag, India's largest Digital Grain Commerce Platform. Arya's profitable growth, while bridging the trust gap across the agricultural value chain, reflects Anand's leadership and people skills

Thank you to the 2,000 leaders who’ve generously done the 7 Questions on Leadership!

I hope Anand's answers will encourage you in your leadership journey. Enjoy!

Cheers,

Jonno White

1. What have you found most challenging as a leader?

The most challenging part of leadership is motivating the team and aligning their goals with the organization's objectives. With younger colleagues joining the workforce, bringing great aspirations and high expectations, channeling their energy toward the company's vision has become a significant challenge.

2. How did you become a leader? Can you please briefly tell the story?

Leadership is something you evolve into over time. My journey began as a basketball player, where I captained my school, university, and local club teams for several years. Those experiences taught me essential skills in strategic management, team building, and execution, which naturally translated into my professional career. The discipline and teamwork ingrained during my playing days laid a strong foundation for my leadership style.

3. How do you structure your work days from waking up to going to sleep?

On non-travel days, I wake up at 5:30-6:00 a.m., freshen up, exercise, and handle morning routines, including getting the kids to school. If I head to the office two-hour drive listen to my favorite playlist during the commute. My day begins with a pre-planned to-do list. When working from home, I tackle household responsibilities first.

Evenings are reserved for family time and dinner by 7 p.m., followed by badminton with friends. I wrap up the day browsing motivational stories online and aim to sleep by 10:30 p.m. I believe important decisions should be made early in the day when the mind is fresh, as fatigue later can compromise judgment and lead to sub-standard decision-making.

4. What's a recent leadership lesson you've learned for the first time or been reminded of?

As leaders, we often place significant trust in certain team members, relying heavily on them. This is essential for building strong relationships and driving efficiency. However, I've learned the importance of "trust but verify." However, trust doesn't mean overlooking the need for occasional checks to ensure alignment and accuracy. Occasional verification ensures accountability and prevents oversights. This isn't about doubting people but about maintaining accountability and ensuring the team's collective success.

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?

"Bounce: The Myth of Talent and the Power of Practice" by Matthew Syed profoundly influenced me. The book can be summarised as follows Talent is a result of thousands of hours of purposeful practice, not innate talent. Expert knowledge comes from experience. If you want to be world-class, you must embrace failure.

The book highlights that excellence stems from thousands of hours of purposeful practice rather than innate talent. It reinforced the idea that leadership is a continuous process of self-improvement, rooted in a deep understanding of "why" rather than just "how" or "what." This perspective reshaped how I approach challenges and personal growth.

6. If you could only give one piece of advice to a young leader, what would you say to them?

Stay focused on your goals. Leadership often exposes you to diverse opinions and ideas, which can be overwhelming. Resist the temptation to get sidetracked by external influences, and remain committed to your goals, plans, your vision.

7. What is one meaningful story that comes to mind from your time as a leader, so far?

We launched a Trade Finance product, but despite months of effort, the Finance team struggled to provide accurate reporting. Although the team didn't report directly to me as I oversee Business and Operations, the entire team was working tirelessly, often burning the midnight oil, yet unable to find a solution.

Upon digging deeper, I discovered a communication gap between the Accounts and Operations teams. The issue stemmed from unnecessary data-sharing practices, leading to repeated errors. By shifting the focus from "how" or "what" to "why," we uncovered the root cause and streamlined the process, eliminating redundancies. This experience reinforced the value of questioning assumptions to address problems effectively and foster better collaboration.