Tell us about yourself and your background.
Growing up as the daughter of an Indian Naval officer, I embraced a life of constant change, moving across India every few years to different cities, adapting to new schools and cultures. This nomadic lifestyle taught me resilience, adaptability, and the art of building meaningful connections and finding common ground in diverse settings—lessons that have become the cornerstone of my human-centered leadership approach.
My career journey has been anything but conventional, spanning from architecture to human-centered innovation and design to strategic management. This diverse path has equipped me with a multifaceted perspective, allowing me to tackle complex challenges in sectors like healthcare, digital and service design, retail, telecommunications, and financial services. As I pursue my PhD in business management, I blend rigorous analysis with a people-first ethos, aspiring to shape workplaces where every voice fuels progress that resonates globally.
Having worked in the USA and India, I have developed a profound understanding of user needs and cultural nuances, enabling me to drive sustainable success by prioritizing people and purpose, ensuring that our solutions are practical and culturally resonant.
What is it that you do?
As a Senior Consultant at Deloitte, I specialize in human-centered strategy and user experience, transforming intricate challenges into inclusive, innovative solutions. By anchoring design decisions in empathetic research, I create accessible, user-centric outcomes that resonate across diverse audiences. In an era of technology rapidly reshaping the workplace, I prioritize driving strategic planning and stakeholder engagement while ensuring our solutions amplify efficiency and human potential.
On Deloitte’s purpose and well-being team, I spearhead initiatives in client development, well-being programs, and leadership engagements across various geographies, cultivating vibrant, empathetic workplaces, fostering organizational alignment, and amplifying impact in an AI-driven world. By blending creativity with strategy, I ensure technology serves as a bridge to connection, not a barrier.
What is your mission?
Rooted in my military family’s ethos of service and discipline, I champion human-centered strategy and AI-driven innovation, empowering purpose-driven leaders to challenge conventions and cultivate sustainable, inclusive workplaces that spark transformative social impact.
I envision organizations where diversity catalyzes creativity, and every voice shapes a shared vision of equity and progress. My mission is to forge a dynamic bridge between innovation and humanity, transforming workplaces into environments that are highly efficient, profoundly meaningful, and purpose-driven.
What are you most proud of achieving in your career?
I am most proud of channelling my creative expertise with an unwavering commitment to a people-first philosophy, transforming challenges into human-centered solutions across diverse industries. My unconventional journey has shaped a unique lens, allowing me to approach problems with empathy and bold innovation.
By listening to voices from end-users to executives, I have crafted solutions that resonate widely, driving organizational impact through empathy and inclusion. It’s not just about metrics but also about making technology a seamless extension of human needs while balancing aesthetics with functionality, proving that creativity can foster impact and inclusion.
My ability to unite teams around a shared, human-centered vision has driven projects to completion, fostering cultures of collaboration and delivering strategies with lasting impact. I am driven to continue shaping empathetic, innovative workplaces and creating meaningful change.
Tell us about your leadership philosophy.
My leadership philosophy is rooted in placing people at the heart of every decision, guided by empathy, genuine connection, and a collective sense of purpose. In 2025, as AI and digital transformation reshape workplaces, this approach is vital to harmonize technology with humanity.
Inspired by my upbringing in India’s cultural mosaic, I learned to value everyone’s unique perspective, weaving their aspirations into a collective vision that builds trust, inspires confidence, and fosters collaboration. I practice radical candor, delivering honest feedback with kindness, which empowers teams to grow and creates safe spaces for authentic expression.
By holding regular check-ins, I focus on understanding team members challenges, not just their progress, fostering a culture of openness, and reducing stress. Recognizing every individual’s unique story with sincerity, I help cultivate enduring, globally connected communities that transform challenges into opportunities for growth in today’s dynamic world.
How has the business leadership landscape changed?
In 2025, the business leadership landscape is a dynamic interplay of technology and humanity, shaped by AI’s rapid rise and digital transformation. Leaders today must harness AI to boost efficiency and decision-making while ensuring these tools amplify human potential rather than replace it.
Empathy has emerged as a cornerstone of modern leadership, especially in remote and hybrid work environments that have become the norm post-COVID-19. My experiences across various geographies have taught me that honouring every individual’s story is key to building trust and fostering creative collaboration.
Today’s workforce seeks purpose beyond profits, urging leaders to ground their decisions in ethical values and to unite diverse voices in a shared mission. Human-centered leadership is essential for thriving in this transformed landscape, enabling leaders to stay open to learning, listen with intent, and lead with heart, crafting resilient, creative communities that turn global challenges into opportunities for growth and meaningful impact.
By balancing technological innovation with soulful connection, we can build successful organizations that leave a lasting, positive legacy.
What do you believe are the biggest challenges facing leaders in MENA? And how do you believe they can be overcome?
MENA’s leaders navigate a vibrant crossroads of technology and humanity, where AI and digital transformation reshape fintech and oil & gas industries. My human-centered approach bridges challenges into opportunities for inclusive, innovative cultures that shine globally.
- Digital Divide: Inclusion is critical, with 55% of MENA children accessing digital learning during the pandemic. By supporting Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030 goal of 70% digital literacy by 2030 and the UAE’s Vision 2030 aim for 100% digital government services, leaders can invest in tech access or equitable growth, ensuring no one is left behind.
- Skills Gap: AI and analytics are vital for fintech’s compliance tools, in Dubai’s DIFC and Saudi Arabia’s NEOM, yet a skills shortage slows progress. Lifelong learning programs spark innovation, empowering teams to thrive.
- Regulatory Complexity: Fintech’s digital currencies demand ethical navigation from Abu Dhabi’s ADGM to Riyadh’s SAMA. Transparent leadership builds trust, fostering innovation.
- Legacy Systems: Integrating AI with systems, like Aramco’s IoT or ADNOC’s digital rigs, is challenging. Collaborative strategies weave digital and business goals, easing transitions.
- Cybersecurity: With Saudi Arabia and the UAE as top cyber threat targets, vigilance is key. Empathetic leadership ensures trust through robust data protection.
- Cultural Resistance: Change stalls in MENA’s diverse cultures, from Saudi Arabia’s collectivist roots to the UAE’s expatriate workforce. Engaging teams with empathy sparks resilience.
Driving every decision with empathy, MENA leaders can craft inclusive, resilient cultures that shine globally, transforming challenges into a legacy of connection and sustainable success.
Can you explain the concept of human-centered leadership?
Human-centered leadership is about prioritizing the growth and well-being of people with compassion, recognizing each individual as a unique story with their own aspirations and challenges. In today’s AI-driven world, where technology can sometimes feel impersonal, this approach is vital for maintaining human connection and fostering trust and creativity.
My journey from architecture to human-centered design has taught me the importance of creating physical and metaphorical spaces where everyone feels seen and valued.
By leading with care rather than control, we can counteract technology’s isolating effects, building resilient communities that adapt and innovate. This leadership style ensures organizational success and uplifts individuals, creating a global legacy where every voice fuels meaningful change.
How does being an empathetic & human-centered leader influence company culture?
Empathetic leadership is akin to painting a vibrant mural where each person’s story adds a unique colour, fostering a sense of belonging and mutual respect. By listening attentively and understanding team members perspectives, leaders can make compassionate and inclusive decisions, thereby nurturing a culture where everyone feels valued. It encourages open communication, where ideas flow freely, and teams collaborate more effectively.
My diverse background has taught me to uplift every perspective, building trust and inspiring shared brilliance through shared storytelling that strengthens bonds and drives teamwork.
A people-first approach is essential in an AI-driven era, where technology can sometimes diminish human connection. It anchors decisions in kindness and warmth, creating environments where diversity fuels innovation. By prioritizing people, empathetic leaders cultivate resilient cultures rooted in connection and purpose. Together, they shape soulful workplaces that inspire growth and leave a lasting, positive impact on individuals and organizations.
Why is empathy an overlooked skill in leadership and how can it be harnessed?
Empathy is often sidelined in leadership because traditional models prioritize measurable outcomes like profit and efficiency over emotional intelligence. In recent leadership trends for 2025, empathy is increasingly being recognized as a critical competency for leaders. It is the glue that binds teams, driving trust, collaboration, and resilience, qualities that are indispensable in today’s complex workplaces. To harness empathy, leaders must first cultivate active listening to understand their team members perspectives and challenges.
By sharing their vulnerabilities, leaders can create a safe space for candid exchanges, building trust and encouraging authenticity. My experiences in diverse cultural settings and designing inclusive spaces have taught me the power of empathy in connecting with others by hearing every dream with an open mind.
For instance, when I shared a personal story of a design flaw that taught me persistence, it opened conversations where team members felt comfortable sharing their experiences, leading to stronger team cohesion.
In an AI-driven world, empathy is crucial for countering the isolating effects of technology, ensuring that our decisions are rooted in human warmth and understanding. By championing empathy, leaders can inspire creativity and solidarity, shaping cultures that are adaptive, inclusive, and driven by a shared sense of purpose.
What makes a great company culture?
A great company culture is like a well-designed space that welcomes everyone, with diversity as its foundation and a shared purpose as its guiding light. My transition from architecture to human-centered design taught me that just as physical spaces must accommodate all users—children, elders, and those with disabilities- workplaces must uplift every voice, regardless of background.
At Deloitte, I lead a multicultural team to develop a global client platform, and by integrating diverse insights, we significantly boosted engagement and innovation, demonstrating how diversity drives progress. Cross-cultural teams have shown me that when people unite around a common goal, their differences become strengths, fostering unity, dedication, and sharper decision-making.
In today’s technology-driven world, embracing diverse perspectives is essential for countering isolation and cultivating resilient, vibrant cultures. By championing inclusion, businesses can ignite creativity and commitment, creating workplaces that succeed and uplift through harmony and shared achievement. Leadership plays a pivotal role by modelling inclusive behaviours, celebrating diversity, and fostering a sense of belonging.
What is your favorite leadership quote?
My favorite leadership quote is, “A society grows great when old men plant trees in whose shade they shall never sit,” a Greek proverb. It resonates because it embodies the essence of selfless leadership—planting seeds for future generations without expecting personal reward.
It inspires me to lead with a long-term vision, fostering trust and collaboration across diverse teams. By nurturing empathetic and genuine connections, I aim to cultivate inclusive cultures where everyone can flourish, ensuring that our collective efforts leave a lasting, positive impact.
What are your goals for the next 5 years?
Over the next five years, I aspire to orchestrate empathy and innovation in organizations navigating AI’s rise. My journey from India’s cultural kaleidoscope to Deloitte’s strategic design team has taught me to lead with heart, crafting environments where every voice ignites change. I am driven to infuse compassion into processes, ensuring technology uplifts human spirit over digital noise.
I envision mentoring global leaders to center humanity in decisions, fostering trust and collaboration. Empathy will anchor my work, building communities where people feel seen and inspired, nurturing innovation sanctuaries where inclusion drives progress.
By embracing curiosity and tackling bold challenges, I shall shape strategies that embed inclusion into organizational DNA. I envision cultivating workplaces that serve as global hubs of creativity and belonging, leaving a quiet legacy of connection—where technology serves humanity, and every story shapes a hopeful, global future.
Where can readers find out more about you?
Readers can connect with me on LinkedIn, where I share insights on human-centered leadership and its role in fostering empathetic, inclusive workplaces. My posts explore how valuing diverse voices and building a shared sense of purpose can drive sustainable success in an AI-driven world, where individuals feel empowered and their contributions lead to lasting impact.
