Pause for a moment.
Look around the world today. Do you see what I see?
- Nations grappling with climate change;
- Widening inequality;
- Obsession with competition over collaboration, and
- Employees drowning in never-ending burnout.
Now, let’s think about why:
- The richest 1% own nearly half the world’s wealth, while billions struggle to survive.
- Employees are disengaging at rapid speed because they are seeking meaning, not just a paycheck.
- Work-life balance is slowly but surely becoming a myth.
- Leaders are feeling stuck in a cycle of stress, pressure, and uncertainty.
What if I told you great leadership is not just about the pursuit of commercial achievement but also about sustaining success, creating fulfillment, and community advancement? When the intention for growth and income is rooted in greater good impact, equity and balance, and deeper fulfillment, the returns are reciprocal. Because as we all know – “What goes around, comes around”.
Let’s take Ratan Tata as an example. He could have been just another billionaire. Instead, he chose a very different path and did what others in his echelon have not even dreamed of doing. About 66% of Tata Sons’ equity is held by Tata Trusts. In so doing, he impacted and is still impacting millions through the Tata Trusts which fund education, healthcare, rural development, and research initiatives that help further the giving, living and bridging of the wealth divide.
This out-of-the-box thinking fueled his desire to go big on innovation. In a time when other Indian automakers hesitated to make the move, Tata Motors led the EV market, ultimately dominating India’s electric car space.
His ability to be original and inventive extended to both company and community. He did things with ambition and humility, all the while empowering people to grow the corporate brand and also advance their personal character alongside him rather than only chasing personal glory.
He inspired and still influences thousands of young entrepreneurs, helping build India’s next-gen unicorns like Ola, Paytm, Zivame, CureFit, Lenskart, and Urban Ladder.
As Tata himself said, “Leadership is about taking responsibility, not making excuses.”
Tata is a good example of what it is to be a Corporate Sufi. As most of you who have followed me for years know, a Corporate Sufi’s mission is to achieve material success blended with a deep sense of purpose, balance & happiness. This is created by the synergy of Business, Balance & Beyond.
So, here are six traits of a Transformational Corporate Sufi Leader that you can aspire to developing and incorporating into your leadership approach:
1. You not only adapt to change but are at the forefront of creating it. You are not afraid to break old paradigms and redefine what’s possible.
2. You are empowering, not overpowering! You espouse leadership which isn’t about control, but about sparking significance and impact.
3. You are built to serve—leadership to you is about elevating others because real influence comes from contribution, not command.
4. You see uncertainty as opportunity. You know growth comes from discomfort.
5. You embody the vision so your energy flows authentically and naturally to fuel others.
6. You influence others through your transparency and honesty because real influence is earned, not enforced.
In closing, The Corporate Sufi Leader’s traits and principles are essential building blocks for a strong foundation of success and significance. In short, a Corporate Sufi Leader builds a Business that functions in Balance to ignite a fulfilling life Beyond the bottom line!
Want to learn how to acquire, how to grow, or how to advance your Corporate Sufi leadership? Join my 5-Step Masterclass in Transformational Leadership where I will share all the secrets, strategies and solutions.