(Mr K V Rao, Senior Advisor – BCG, Chairman Tata International Singapore Pte Ltd & TML Holdings Pte Ltd, had posted this thought-provoking article on LinkedIn, wherein he summarises insights shared at a talk with students at IIM Ahmedabad — The E.A.G.L.E. Mindset. His permission to blog it here is gratefully acknowledged!)
Earlier this month, I had the privilege of visiting the Indian Institute of Management, Ahmedabad — India’s undisputed premier management institution and one that consistently ranks among the world’s finest business schools. (Thanks to the IIM Alumni Association of Singapore Suresh V Shankar and @Ravish Kumar of IIMA).
Over the years, I have worked closely with many IIM Ahmedabad alumni — as friends who have gone on to become global leaders, as colleagues in boardrooms across continents, and as young management trainees who began their careers under my leadership and today occupy very senior roles. Visiting the campus and engaging with the current MBA cohort was both inspiring and energising.
During my interaction with the students, I spoke on a theme that defines our times — how to build a successful career in a turbulent world.
I began with a simple analogy: turbulence on an aircraft. When turbulence strikes, we instinctively look to the pilot for calm and reassurance. Now imagine if the aircraft is facing external turbulence — and at the same time, the pilot is experiencing turbulence in his own mind and emotions. That would be a recipe for disaster.
In exactly the same way, the world today is going through unprecedented turbulence — economic, geopolitical, technological, and social. While we may have limited control over what happens outside, we have complete control over what happens within.
In a turbulent world, leadership — and career success — begin from within.
To make the conversation practical and memorable, I introduced a simple framework built around an acronym — E.A.G.L.E. – essentially to help do some self reflection !
E — Empathy: True leadership starts with awareness. Empathy allows us to understand people, not just processes. It helps us see the ‘why’ behind the ‘what’ and make decisions grounded in human connection. We seem to be loosing that personal touch and people connect, as leaders.
A — Agility: Agility is the modern superpower. It is not just about changing, but about how fast we adapt. In today’s world, the biggest risk is standing still, and this skill does not come naturally and adaptation demands a great deal of plasticity.
G — Growth: Learning is the process, but growth is the destination. A growth mindset means being willing to outgrow your old self to become your future self. This is what creates an internal stretch, and development
L — Learning: The moment we stop being students, we stop being leaders. In a world where knowledge has a shelf life, curiosity is the most valuable currency. It is a continuous cycle of learning, unlearning and relearning!
E — Endurance: Resilience helps us bounce back. Endurance helps us stay the course. Success is not built by sprints alone — it is built by marathons. It is most crucial to build that mental and emotional resilience to endure for the long haul to build a career in an uncertain and challenging environment.
When these five traits come together, we don’t just navigate turbulence — we perhaps rise above it. In a turbulent world, leaders don’t merely survive the storm. They can learn to fly through it or over it. This is like creating a strong inner compass to guide through the storms that are known and unknown.
After introducing the E.A.G.L.E. framework and sharing these perspectives, what followed was a truly engaging and energising interaction with the students — a group that represents some of the best and brightest young minds in India. Their questions were thoughtful, their curiosity was sharp, and their ambition was inspiring. The conversation moved effortlessly from careers and leadership to purpose, values, resilience, and navigating uncertainty in a rapidly changing world.
It was a powerful reminder that while the world may be turbulent, the future is in very capable hands.
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