Context for interaction: Deepak Jayaraman worked with Avendus Capital in the context of Aashish Bhinde transitioning on from the firm after setting up the Digital and Tech Banking practice as the market leader. It was business critical to get this transition right. Given that they had decided to have a dual leadership structure in place of Aashish, it was also important to ensure that the two individuals settle well into the new role and take the practice to newer heights. Deepak put together and adopted a bespoke approach (included a detailed assessment and development planning of the two individuals and some facilitated team sessions) and worked closely with Gaurav Deepak, Aashish Bhinde and the two leaders to hand-hold the crucial phase of transition.

Key messages:

• Invested significant time upfront in understanding the business nuances before getting into the leadership issues
• Adopted a first principles approach and was able to crystallize fairly unstructured issues to get to the crux
• Has an authentic style of engagement that builds trust with the key stakeholders to drive change and to get nuanced feedback that goes beyond surface level inputs and posturing that often happens

Context to interaction: Andrew serves as global leader of EgonZehnder’s Assessment and Development practice. Deepak worked closely with him to conceptualize and created a digital library of curated insights drawn from around the world on topics across Executive Potential, Leadership Assessment and Development.

Key messages:

1. 3 words to describe Deepak – Drives results, is conscientious and has a solutions orientation
2. Drove the entire effort end to end – Conceptualized, designed the format, spoke to several of our leaders, created a content creation map, got it filmed, edited and curated based on use case
3. Works as a true partner to frame the problem and drive collaboratively to the finish line

Context for interaction: Bhavtosh’s previous employer had shut down their operations in Asia and Bhavtosh was at an important inflection point in his career. He was keen to take stock of his career and focus on the next phase of life, not go for a routine job change. He was considering options as diverse as PE/VC, Entrepreneurship, Journalism and Equity Research.

Key messages:

Deepak

1. Showed me a mirror with specific emphasis on what energized me and what gave me competitive advantage
2. Helped prioritize across disparate options using the insight from above
3. Made introductions to key people in his network for me to pressure test my ideas
4. Partnered with me in the journey to conversion and final decision making

I strongly recommend Deepak to somebody who wants to have an exploration into self with a view to a bigger leap in their career.

Context to interaction: Deepak (and another colleague from EgonZehnder) worked closely with Darshan to evaluate his top team in the context of his ambitious business vision at H-Energy. Given it was a nascent organization, it was critical that the leadership team punches above its weight.

Key messages:

1. Has helped in gearing up our leadership team in the context of our vision
2. Deepak (and his colleague) conducted a thorough assessment and followed it up with honest and transparent feedback to the leaders
3. 2 years hence, the observations and insights around the leaders have turned out to be very accurate

Context to interaction: Deepak worked with Dr Deepak Parikh to help build his Board and his top-team at Clariant through multiple initiatives.

Key messages:

1. Listens keenly, sees through and hears what is “not said”
2. Provides sound C-level counsel across multiple topics
3. Helped transform the organization in order to enable a paradigm shift in business outcomes

Context to interaction: Deepak worked closely with Govind on several Leadership Assessment and Executive search assignments. Deepak also worked with Govind on several office-building initiatives.

Key messages:

1. Active listener and suspends his agenda while connecting with people
2. Arrives at solutions with a coaching mindset and drives ownership for change
3. Strong capabilities in assessing and developing leaders

Context to interaction: Deepak has worked closely with Rane Group on Leadership Development initiatives in 2 contexts.

1. Assessing and Development Planning for 5 senior leaders
2. Helping a senior executive transition from leading a function to driving a business

Key messages:

1. Has added significant value to the leadership development journey at Rane Group
2. Proactive, systematic, detail oriented and thorough in follow up
3. Open to recalibrating along the way go beyond the agreed scope of work

Context to interaction: Deepak and Mrinalini worked closely in driving the Healthcare practice for EgonZehnder in India.

Key messages:

1. Passionate about helping people
2. Builds trust with leaders
3. Is able to effectively combine business understanding and people insights in the context of a leadership situation

Context to interaction: Nabil Francis is MD, Zuari Cements (Part of Italcementi Group). Transition Insight worked with him in the context of developing one of his leaders.

Key messages:

1. Able to effectively analyze a situation and get to the crux of the issue
2. Comfortable in engaging with leaders across cultures
3. Drove significant shift in behaviors

Context to interaction: Naresh is President, Asia Pacific at Pall Corporation and is based in Singapore. He had spent ~10 years at GE and ~5 years at Philips before joining Pall. Deepak had worked with him in the context of identifying his internal successor when he took up the Asia Pacific leadership.

Key messages:

1. Connects leadership attributes to business issues well
2. Strong problem-solver who structures and solves the problem effectively
3. Shows humility and engages as a coach to build long term relationships

Context to interaction: Rajeev Vasudeva is the Global CEO of EgonZehnder and sits in London. Deepak worked with him when he was part of the EgonZehnder India team.

Key messages:

1. Strives to sharply understand the real client problem to be solved
2. Genuine interest in people and in helping them unleash their personal potential and help shape their careers
3. Passion for curating perspectives and sharing insights

Context to interaction: Sanjiv Sachar is Co-Founder of EgonZehnder – India (along with Rajeev Vasudeva) and is a Partner in the New Delhi office. Deepak worked with Sanjiv on some Board and Leadership Assessment projects.

Key messages:

1. Partner of choice for challenging Assessment and Development assignments
2. Nuanced understanding of long-term potential of individuals
3. 2 A.M friend!

Context to interaction: Deepak has worked closely with Sonny in the Health practice and on multiple complex Assessment and Development assignments across sectors.

Key messages:

1. Has high EQ and is passionate about assessing and developing leaders
2. Has strong execution and client-engagement skills – diligent, conscientious and sees things through
3. Evaluates leaders with curiosity and delivers feedback with a solutions orientation