CEO Insights Magazine

Effective leadership is a cornerstone of business success. It involves not only setting a clear vision and strategic direction but also inspiring and motivating a team to achieve shared goals. Effective leaders are adept at adapting to changing circumstances, fostering a culture of continuous improvement, and communicating transparently with their teams. They balance strategic thinking with the ability to address day-today challenges, creating an environment where innovation thrives and employees feel valued and empowered.

In a business, the role of a leader is pivotal. Leaders are responsible for guiding the organization’s strategic direction, ensuring alignment between departmental goals and overall company objectives. They provide oversight and leadership, making crucial decisions that impact the company’s operations and growth. Business Leaders also play a key role in managing stakeholder relationships, including investors, clients, and employees, and ensuring that the organization adheres to regulatory and ethical standards.

Sriram Srinivasan, Executive Director at Grant Thornton INDUS, reflects the set of all the qualities of an effective leader. Sriram began his career in Finance and Accounts, working across various industries such as Real Estate, FMCG, and Manufacturing. In 2002, driven by curiosity, he transitioned into US Taxation- a field that has since become his passion and focus. His journey in this sector has been marked by significant personal and professional growth. Sriram’s commitment to continuous learning is evident in his impressive credentials, including an MBA, US CPA, and advanced qualifications in Business Analytics and Leadership from IIM Kozhikode.

Sriram’s dedication to coaching and personal development is reflected in his achievements as an NLP Practitioner and his EMCC Global Individual Accreditation (Foun- dation). He embraces the shifting dynamics of the business world, transitioning from VUCA to BANI, and remains committed to adapting to these changes through ongoing learning. His alignment with his firm's values and his passion for coaching people to realize their potential drive him daily. Sriram finds joy in seeing others grow and succeed, a testament to his leadership philosophy and dedication to both his profession and his community.

CEO Insights recently engaged in a one on one interaction with Sriram Srinivasan, Executive Director at Grant Thornton INDUS, let’s read on.

Tell us about your leadership approach. What are the guidelines or methodologies you follow as a leader?
My leadership approach is adaptable, changes in response to

different situations. I prioritize providing clear direction and guidance, ensuring that everyone is aligned with the organization's common goals. Adhering to core values and purpose helps determine the appropriate actions and methods. Building strong relationships through empathy with team members, clients, the community, and vendors is also crucial. Additionally, I emphasize continuous learning and curiosity, which accelerates my ability to acquire new knowledge. Above all, authenticity is key to my leadership style.

As we advance in our careers and take on increased responsibilities, the landscape we operate in evolves. Over the past 20+ years, we have witnessed significant global changes, from the impact of the Twin Towers attack when I began my career in US taxation to multiple recessions and the COVID-19 pandemic. The way we conduct business has transformed, and we must be prepared for even faster-paced changes in the future. Embracing and leading these changes effectively with our teams is essential, and our firm has successfully adapted to these shifts throughout the years.

How do you stay updated with ongoing industry trends to guide your organization into the future?
Maintaining a sense of curiosity is key to my continuous learning. We've transitioned from a VUCA (Volatile, Uncertain, Complex, Ambiguous) world to a BANI (Brittle, Anxious, Nonlinear, Incompre- hensible) world. With the rapid pace of change, it's crucial to adapt our business practices to meet new expectations from the industry, market, clients, and teams. Staying informed about industry trends allows us to support our clients and teams effectively.

Our firm recognized the importance of technology early on, integrating it into our processes and placing it at the hands of our functional consultants. This has enabled us to automate many routine tasks, with even more automation anticipated in the future. Embracing and learning new technologies equips us to leverage them wisely, enhancing the service we provide to our clients and teams.

By staying curious and empathetic, my team and I remain aligned with the latest trends and are better positioned to deliver valuable insights and support to our clients, teams, and community.

With over twenty-five years of ex-perience, how has your path to success unfolded, and what is your success mantra?
Reflecting on Earl Nightingale’s definition of success - 'Success is the progressive realization of a worthy ideal'- I find that success is truly about the journey of working towards meaningful goals. The pursuit itself is deeply rewarding, even as our objectives evolve along the way. My career has been an incredible journey, and I owe much of my success to the mentors and

coaches who have guided me and helped me achieve my milestones. I am deeply grateful for the lessons and support they have provided.

Each day, my focus is on how I can better serve and create a positive impact on my clients, team, firm, and community. This mindset drives me to continually upgrade my skills and knowledge. Curiosity and a passion for continuous learning are what enable me to evolve and improve every day.

What is your future destination?
The industry presents significant growth opportunities for firms, but it’s crucial to cultivate strategic and empathetic leaders who can leverage these opportunities and build a platform for the next generation of professionals. My goal is to develop more strategic leaders who can make meaningful contributions to our firm, clients, people, and community.

I am committed to diversity and inclusion, which aligns with our firm’s objectives. We are dedicated to enhancing our diverse and inclusive team culture and are actively addressing gender imbalance by fostering the development of more women leaders. Our ongoing effort is to be recognized as the employer of choice for learning and growth.

Given your extensive experience in the industry, what advice would you offer to emerging leaders?
I advise upcoming industry leaders to remain curious and maintain an open mindset toward continuous learning. Being empath-etic towards clients, team members, and the community is crucial for providing tailored services. Embracing the concept of purpose, as highlighted by Simon Sinek’s 'Start with Why,' can create a meaningful and lasting impact on everyone you work with, including clients, your team, and the community. Additionally, I recommend reading widely, as it enriches your knowledge and helps you become a better leader and role model for the next generation.

Sriram Srinivasan, Executive Director, Grant Thornton Indus
Sriram Srinivasan is the Executive Director at Grant Thornton Indus. Driven by his values and purpose, Sriram is dedicated to supporting and nurturing individuals to unlock their potential, fostering joy and success. His passion for seeing others grow motivates him daily. Committed to continuous learning, Sriram creates a meaningful impact through his work, enhancing service for clients, his team, and the community.

Hobbies: Reading, Travel, Photo-graphy

Favorite Cuisine: I like all types of vegetarian food

Favorite Book: Ikigai, Mindset, Start with Why, Man's Search for Meaning, & more

Favorite Travel Destination: I love travelling to new places & learning about new cultures