The Best Leaders Are Great Teachers

Kundapur Vaman Kamath was a teacher. But he didn’t work at a school or stand in front of a class. Instead, he delivered his lessons at the office—to the employees who served under him during his four decades as a senior executive at, and then CEO of, India’s ICICI Bank. Whether he was offering tips on stakeholder communication or explaining the importance of ambitious goals, Kamath treated each day as an opportunity to provide his direct reports with a customized master class in management. Over time, this approach transformed the company into a hothouse of leadership talent, accelerating its growth. ICICI became one of India’s largest, most innovative banks, and Kamath has been credited with molding a whole generation of the country’s banking executives.

great-teachers-great-leaders

Related articles

Lead from Anywhere: Developing Remote Leadership Skills for the Modern Workforce

As technology enables geographic dispersion, leading at a distance requires finesse given the lack of in-person time. While collaboration platforms connect teams digitally, human relationships thrive on soft skills such as empathy, vulnerability, and community-building. Remote-first organizations succeed through leaders cultivating psychological safety and tangible support remotely. Frequent, open communication keeps distributed staffers engaged. Video […]

Navigate the New Normal: Adapting Technology in Education and Business

The pandemic has profoundly disrupted education, workplaces, and many other institutions worldwide. However, for industries that have quickly embraced technology during these challenging times, it also presents opportunities. As society adjusts to long-term changes in how we interact and collaborate, innovative uses of digital tools offer promising ways forward. The swift transition to online and […]