What is the key to a leader’s success? Prof Prasad Kaipa, CEO of Kaipa group, California, says that it is wisdom.
Talking to students of ICFAI Foundation for Higher Education (IFHE) on the campus here on Friday, he said, “Too much smartness leads to dumbness and being wise is the best way to succeed as a leader.” He delivered a talk on ‘Why smartness does not get you where you want to go’.
He started making the audience wonder how smart they were but left them realising that being wise and not just smart was the way forward. “Smart people fall into self-deception. But wisdom, on the other hand, guarantees success. When one starts to be kind and helpful to others, without any expectation in return, that’s when one becomes wise. Clarity of thought, being in the present and humility are the hallmarks of a wise person.”
Further, Kaipa suggested that Indian researchers differentiate themselves from the rest by tapping into the nation’s ancient wisdom hidden in scriptures.
With a doctorate in physics, Kaipa is the leadership coach for many global Fortune 500 companies and considered to be one amongst the top global thinkers in management. He has authored two books.
IFHE vice-chancellor J.Mahender Reddy also spoke.