Q: Leading major corporate changes can be daunting. What have your experiences taught you about the human side of transformation?
Asha: One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that transformation succeeds through people. Technology is important, but it doesn’t drive change on its own. Real progress happens when people feel empowered, trusted, and ready to adapt.
I’ve always been passionate about people, culture, and diversity, and tying those things together to build teams that can drive change … all while helping those team members truly thrive along the way. I find great joy in watching talent grow, and even greater excitement in being a mentor in that journey. This is especially important today as we adopt AI and other emerging tools. It’s not AI versus humans. It’s about how we use technology to amplify human intelligence and solve our biggest challenges.
Q: You’ve drawn an interesting distinction between authority and influence. What does influence mean to you as a leader?
Asha: Influence starts with understanding the problem you’re trying to solve and ends with delivering meaningful outcomes. In between, the challenge is bringing people together and helping an organization move forward.
In most global companies, that means working across different functions, teams, and priorities. The best leaders I have learned from were exceptional at connecting people and ideas. These leaders create alignment, build networks, and drive impact. Authority often comes from a desire for control. Influence is about creating outcomes. Every leader needs some combination of both, but I have always gravitated toward influence.
Q: You’ve spoken about finding your own leadership style. What did that journey teach you about authentic leadership?
Asha: I spent the first few years of my career trying to emulate successful leaders I saw around me. I didn’t pay close attention to the differences in their leadership style; I focused more on how they delivered tasks at hand and met objectives. At some point, I realized emulating them just wasn’t working for me and didn’t feel natural. That was a turning point.
The more I leaned into who I actually was, the more successful I became as a leader. And, the more I started noticing how different leadership approaches impact teams. Every leader must find an approach that aligns with who they are. Authentic leadership starts with understanding your strengths, values, and what motivates you as a leader. Authenticity builds trust, confidence, and consistency. People respond to leaders who lead genuinely.
Q: What role do trust and risk play in effective leadership?
Asha: Trust is absolutely fundamental. Leaders who rely more on influence rather than authority have to accept a certain amount of risk. You don’t control every outcome. Instead, you are empowering people, inspiring them, giving them room to contribute, and trusting them to succeed.
It can feel uncomfortable at times, but it’s often where innovation happens. When you set people up for success, you must allow them to take ownership and sometimes make mistakes along the way.
Q: When you are putting together teams to tackle complex challenges, what do you look for in the mix of people around the table?
Asha: I start by assessing the strengths we already have and identifying the gaps. Then it’s about bringing in the right skills and capabilities. We’re seeing a major shift toward skills-based teams.
Diversity of thought, blending different talents, and a shared ability to adapt are what truly matter today.
Q: What role has curiosity played in your leadership journey? Is it vital for future leaders?
Asha: Curiosity is mandatory. Leaders can only influence effectively if understand what is happening around them. That means deeply connecting with customers, markets, technology, and the broader environment. If you are disconnected from those realities, it’s very difficult to guide meaningful change. Curiosity helps leaders learn, adapt, and make wiser decisions. It’s one of the most important qualities any leader can cultivate.
Q: How do you see leadership evolving as AI becomes a regular part of the workplace?
Asha: The makeup of our teams is shifting from teams made up solely of people to teams where people and technology work side by side. AI is quickly changing how work gets done. As leaders, we need to recognize this shift, embrace it, and adapt.
The core of leadership will still require trust, curiosity, empowerment, and strong communication. However, we will also need to rethink how we develop talent and drive outcomes. We are now in a world where human intelligence and technology collaborate every day, and that dynamic will only strengthen in the years to come. Leaders who embrace AI as a teammate, using it to augment human potential rather than replace it, will be best positioned to build trust, unlock innovation, and inspire their teams to achieve outcomes that neither people nor technology could accomplish alone.
Q: What specific qualities do you hope the next generation of leaders will embrace?
Asha: Communication will always be one of the most important leadership skills. No matter how much AI or any technology advances, human-to-human connection will always matter. Leaders must help people understand change and navigate it successfully.
Beyond that, leaders must evaluate information, solve complex problems, and make sound decisions. The future belongs to those who can blend trust, curiosity, clear communication, and authenticity while helping others grow along the way.
Q: Looking back on your leadership journey, what’s the single greatest lesson that has stayed with you?
Asha: The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that meaningful progress always comes back to people. At its core, authentic leadership is about creating an environment where people can grow, contribute, and thrive. Helping create that environment and inspiring my teams to not only do their work, but to want to do it, has been one of the most rewarding parts of my career.
The challenges our organizations face will continue to evolve. Tech will change, and markets will shift. But people will always be the center of meaningful progress.
Leadership is also constantly evolving, but its foundation remains the same: trust, curiosity, authenticity, and people. Follow Asha on LinkedIn for more perspectives on leading transformation, developing talent, and navigating the future of leadership in the age of AI.
Add a comment