Podcast

Can resilience be taught, or are leaders just born with it?

Raahuul Gupta : It’s 80% nurtured, 20% natural—but without the right culture, even the most resilient leaders can struggle to thrive.

What’s the #1 mistake HR makes in leadership development?

Raahuul Gupta : Relying too much on training while ignoring the need for a culture that fosters adaptability and psychological safety.

How did Indra Nooyi transform PepsiCo beyond Cola?

Raahuul Gupta : She shifted PepsiCo’s focus to healthier products while successfully managing crises and evolving with industry changes.

What made Microsoft thrive under Satya Nadella?

Raahuul Gupta : He broke silos, encouraged learning, and built an open culture where mistakes fueled growth instead of fear.

Why do organizations fail to learn from crises?

Raahuul Gupta : Business pressure pushes them forward too quickly, and HR often lacks influence to drive structured post-crisis reflection.

What’s HR’s biggest challenge in a crisis?

Raahuul Gupta : Balancing empathy with business needs—especially during layoffs—without losing trust or damaging long-term company culture.

Why do some companies appoint business leaders as CHROs?

Raahuul Gupta : To align HR with business strategy, making it a true partner instead of just an administrative function.

How does HR build truly resilient leaders?

Raahuul Gupta : By implementing crisis simulations, fostering adaptability, and embedding resilience into everyday leadership practices.

Is psychological safety the secret to resilience?

Raahuul Gupta : Yes! Employees innovate and grow when they aren’t afraid of making mistakes or speaking up.

10. How can HR improve business alignment and credibility?

Raahuul Gupta : By understanding business priorities, speaking the leadership’s language, and shifting from process execution to strategic influence.