217: Reflections of a CEO: Tiger Tyagarajan

In this captivating episode, we dive deep into the remarkable leadership journey of Tiger Tyagarajan, former CEO of Genpact, who led the company from a humble team of 20 to a global powerhouse of 130,000 employees with over $5 billion in revenue. Tiger's story is one of curiosity, humility, adaptability, and relentless growth. 🚀 Key Leadership Insights: 1. Curiosity as a Superpower:Tiger emphasizes the importance of maintaining a child-like curiosity, even as a leader. For him, "Exhibiting ignorance is at the heart of a leader's curiosity." Leaders should not shy away from admitting what they don’t know but instead use it as fuel to learn and grow. 2. Learning from the Young and the Wise:Early in his career, Tiger learned the power of listening and learning from those with more experience. Yet, as CEO, he also valued the perspectives of younger generations, believing their fresh views are crucial for staying relevant and innovative. 3. Creating a Learning Culture:To attract and retain top talent, Tiger built a culture where continuous learning and growth were embedded into the business model. Creating environments where people feel psychologically safe to share ideas and make mistakes is key to long-term success. 4. Adaptation Through Ecosystem Thinking:Having been part of GE, Tiger understood that learning from diverse ecosystems was essential. As CEO, he spent 50% of his time looking outward, translating noise into actionable insights, and embracing feedback from all sources. 5. Admitting Mistakes and Course-Correcting:Tiger’s humility allowed him to acknowledge when he was wrong and quickly pivot. Leaders must accept the need to course-correct in a constantly evolving environment. 6. Psychological Safety and Commitment:Encouraging dissenting voices is crucial, but once a decision is made, unity and support are expected from everyone. Leaders must walk the talk and demonstrate the behaviors they want to see. 7. Customer-Centric Digital Transformation:Before jumping into digital transformation, Tiger asks, “What does this mean to the customer?” Efficient listening systems are essential to evolve and adapt effectively. 8. The Role of AI and Technology:Tiger remains optimistic about AI’s potential for good, especially in health and education. Leaders must stay curious, experiment, and understand how technology can enhance the customer experience. 9. The CEO as a Conscience Keeper:A CEO’s true role is to be the conscience keeper of the organization’s culture—always asking, “Why?” to ensure alignment with the company’s purpose and values. 📣 Final Thoughts:Tiger Tyagarajan’s journey highlights the transformative power of curiosity, humility, and adaptability. His approach to leadership reminds us all to be learners first, to value dissenting voices, and to always be ready to pivot when necessary. #LeadershipEnigma #TigerTyagarajan #Genpact #LeadershipLessons #DigitalTransformation #CuriosityDrivenLeadership