Babita works in the energy and utilities sectors internationally and originates from India. She is a tech savvy executive with a track record of leading and delivering business value, digital, agile, SAFe (DevOps-CI/CD), cybersecurity, cloud transformations, commercial Bids RFI/RFP’s, business development initiatives, negotiating with global procurement and being a “trusted advisor“ for board members and senior stakeholders. She has led digital transformation programme across diverse industries spanning telecommunications, technology, airlines, consultancy, logistics, pharmaceuticals, life-sciences, medical devices, defence, financial services, rail, energy, and semiconductors manufacturing.
I asked Babita about what soul meant to her?
Namasthe!
The soul is at the very core of our existence. People talk about the reason to be, it is the being, it is who we are, but we don’t commonly relate to it or recognize it. Sometimes it’s easier to travel the world, traverse great destinations like even go to Mars and return. However, the journey within, to discover who am I, what I am? Can be rather treacherous due to our ego, belief systems, perceptions and thinking errors. I’m a daughter of the east, learning, adapting, thriving, and evolving in the west, I embrace my identity and accept it as it is. I think if you have the ability, intention, desire, devotion and dedication to apply efforts you can add value to any ecosystem and be a thought leader in your sphere-powered by your soul, that soul which is colourless, genderless, that which does not need any diversity labels. The living soul is performance in dynamic motion.
Our perception and our illusions shape our world & belief systems, and via experiential learning of self-discovery and kriya yoga workshops, I’ve learned that the journey of self-awareness is a vital journey and that in this journey of I, me, myself, the “soul” is right at the centre and essence of who we are. The soul is free. It’s transformational, it is disruptive, the soul, the being, seeks quantum leaps. It’s not just here to say, okay, I can produce two bags of ice cream today; can I produce four bags tomorrow? That is not quantum improvement or geometric progression. The quantum aspects of the soul make it very esoteric.
Any intellectual intervention to change what you’re doing right now, current state to desired state, can be transformational. It is easy for people to get so entrenched in rules, process, and responsibilities, politics, and power play. Large enterprises are entrenched in the ways of working, which have never been questioned, there is a status quo. It is static. Soul is meant to be dynamic, constantly evolving, and assimilating learning.
One reflection of working in a distributed agile since covid-19 mostly, where people don’t see you, there’s less judgment. Virtual decision making seems to move things quicker based on structured facts, lessons learnt and well thought through plans, because the participants value and recognise good sensible ideas, suggestions, and contributions. Perhaps virtual presence attracts less prejudice and favours true diversity.
What examples have you experienced of a business with soul?
When you look at the evolution of General Motors, their leadership was exposed and immersed totally into the concepts of spirituality as articulated by autobiography of a Yogi. Steve Jobs was inspired by the autobiography of a Yogi. In the 1970’s, 80’s and 90’s, the forward-thinking brands and global enterprises believed in the ethos of staff engagement, they believed in empowerment, they were practising Agile ways of working. Apple staff have been working from home since the 80’s. I’ve been used to working from home in diverse global teams since the 90’s at Hewlett Packard. Forward looking/thinking organizations, leaders with soul, leaders who are in touch with their souls have an authentic personal eminence about them and their teams and can galvanise the socio-economic ecosystems in which they operate. There are many great organisations with a soul, but not enough!
Leaders in touch with their soul induce authentic connections and resonance in their teams; after all we are all light and sound. Where the mind goes, energy flows and attention grows. People can connect virtually with their ideas and co-create the art of possible.
The key challenges faced by organisations are organisational lethargy, status quo, and lack of engagement. Organisation structure, current processes and culture are often barriers. We need catalysts, accelerators, and disruptors to bring about transformation, Perhaps Leadership with soul can spark and galvanise ethical transformation and common unified purpose for businesses’ with a soul.
“The minute you realise that we’re all the same, things begin to shift. I would like to conclude where I would have liked to start with a “Namasthe” the divine in me respectfully recognizes the divine in you.” [Namaste invokes the feeling of spiritual oneness of heart and mind, with the person one is greeting. When understood in a spiritual context, Namaste can be a proper greeting for us all].
This interview is one of over 55 I’ve completed this year with a mix of past customers and other leading industry figures. Do connect with me on Linked In or get in touch via our website if you’d like to know more about the research findings and/or explore how to drive your business forward…with soul.
You can book me to speak personally at an event or meeting, online or (circumstances allowing) face to face.
Namasthe!
