The Distinctiveness of Indian Leaders in the Global Landscape: An Exploration of Strengths and Challenges

Global organisations have seen more leaders of Indian origin, both at the helm and in key business positions across the world than ever before. This article explores the underlying psychosocial qualities and leadership capabilities that Indians bring to global organisations through the lens of YSC’s leadership assessments. We drew from the expertise and experience of our seasoned consultants to evaluate emerging themes by analysing over 400 leaders and synthesising a profile of the typical Indian leader. We explored in-depth the journeys of 44 of these leaders to understand what differentiates them to thrive in global environments and the challenges they navigate through to lead in the global arena. We drew on the tensions they navigate while managing the dynamics of global, matrixed organisations and offer recommendations to successfully traverse towards success. We highlight the implications and provide suggestions for global organisations to understand Indian talent and create the conditions for them to unlock their potential.