New Delhi: GlobalGyan Leadership Academy, is an institution funded by Ratan Tata that specializes in cultivating future leaders for India’s leading MNCs and Fortune 500 companies.
In an exclusive interview with The Sunday Guardian Srinivasa Adepalli, founder & CEO of GlobalGyan Leadership Academy said, “I strongly believe that the area where AI excels is in amplifying human capabilities rather than replacing them altogether. It (AI) can support decision-making by providing insights, processing vast data, and offering predictive models, but it cannot understand context or emotions.”
Excerpts
Q: As AI tools become more integrated into business processes, how do you ensure that the human-centric aspects of leadership, such as critical thinking and adaptability, are not overshadowed?
A: As businesses increasingly integrate AI tools, it’s essential to preserve the human-centric leadership qualities like critical thinking, creativity, and adaptability. While AI can handle repetitive and data-driven tasks, leadership often relies on uniquely human abilities such as empathy, emotional intelligence, and quick decision-making in complex situations. In essence, leaders must focus on developing “human intelligence” alongside technical skills.
At GlobalGyan, we leverage experiential learning through simulations, case studies and role-playing as a way to help leaders navigate ambiguity and complex situations—areas where AI cannot match human intelligence. If we’re able to maintain this balance, then we can ensure that technology supports efficiency rather than overshadowing the core human aspects of effective leadership.
Q: The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report highlights the growing demand for soft skills alongside technical capabilities. How does GlobalGyan approach this duality in its leadership development programs?
A: Effective leadership requires a balance of both technical and soft skills. The World Economic Forum’s Future of Jobs report really backs this claim in that leaders today must learn how to manoeuvre complex situations with not only technical expertise but also critical thinking, empathy, and teamwork.
We understand that. And that’s why our leadership programs are designed to integrate both aspects to deliver a holistic experience for our learners. We combine leadership frameworks with practical exercises that promote team synergy, creativity, and communication. Through real-world simulations, participants learn to handle daily challenges such as conflict resolution and building rapport, while also honing the technical skills needed for sound decision-making.
Q:With companies struggling to balance AI integration and authentic leadership, how can AI complement, rather than replace, essential human skills like decision-making and empathy?
A: I strongly believe that the area where AI excels is in amplifying human capabilities rather than replacing them altogether. It (AI) can support decision-making by providing insights, processing vast data, and offering predictive models, but it lacks the ability to understand context or emotions.
Leaders must use AI as a complementary tool—relying on it for extensive analysis while applying their own judgment, empathy, and human touch to make strategic decisions. At GlobalGyan, we guide leaders on how to integrate AI tools without losing the essential human skills that are core to authentic leadership.
Q:How do you envision the role of AI evolving in leadership development, particularly in nurturing future leaders who possess both technical and human-centric skills?
A: The way I see it, AI will have a major role in personalizing leadership development. For example, think AI-driven platforms that identify individual skill gaps and create customized learning paths for future leaders. With that said, the core elements of leadership—empathy, decision-making, and adaptability—will remain uniquely human. AI can enhance the learning process by providing insights and tracking progress, but leadership development must still include mentorship, hands-on experiences, and peer-to-peer interaction. These elements are essential for nurturing both technical and emotional skills, ensuring a well-rounded approach to developing future leaders.
Q: GlobalGyan’s “Strategy Case Competition for Working Professionals” merges technology with human insights. Could you share examples of how this program has helped leaders address real-world challenges?
A: The competition offered participants four challenging themes based on real-world business issues, such as overcoming commoditization, succeeding with new business models, creating new markets, and building strong customer value propositions. Each case required participants to analyze different stakeholders and scenarios that encouraged critical and creative thinking.
I say this because the responses we received were outstanding, and we recently announced the winners! The winning entries stood out for their excellent data analysis, supported by real evidence. While AI helped with the data analysis, human input—through surveys and questionnaires—played a key role in gathering valuable insights & making inferences.
Q:GlobalGyan has worked with organisations like Tata Communications, HUL, Mahindra, and Myntra, driving 80% revenue growth. What are some key success stories that highlight the transformative impact of your leadership programs?
A: GlobalGyan has partnered with major Indian conglomerates to deliver tailored leadership programs across all organizational levels.
Over the past six years, we’ve supported a leading food and agri conglomerate in developing their middle management
pipeline.