Since 1988, Pragati Leadership is focussed in developing future ready leaders who co-create profitable, sustainable and joyful businesses. Founded by Anu Wakhlu and Arun Wakhlu, the company has been chiseling leaders to develop holistic teams and companies.
In the following Interview with Insights Success, Arun Wakhlu takes us on a journey into the world that has been building leaders.
- Kindly brief us about your company and its initial journey.
Pragati Leadership supports organizations to build wholesome leaders who catalyze change across teams, businesses, society and the planet. For over 30 years we have worked with more than 860 organizations to transform 1,20,400 leaders and build sustainable businesses by combining result-oriented thinking with mindfulness.
Headquartered in Pune, we have operations in Pune, Mumbai, Chennai, Bengaluru, and Delhi-NCR. We have delivered value in over 29 countries around the world.
Our initial journey began in 1985 from a tiny flat in Pune. The Founders, Ms. Anu Wakhlu (MCC) and Arun Wakhlu (co-author of the book ‘One Wholesome World’), set up Pragati Leadership in response to the question: “How can our organisations be more joyful and productive at the same time?” We found that people who followed their inner calling, had a higher purpose, and saw work as an opportunity to serve from one’s gifts were more joyful and productive.
Our belief is that people are at the heart of every organization. It is people who drive business forward by listening to customers, Innovating, building organizational strategy and driving operational efficiencies.
- Brief us about the Founder/CEO and the motivation behind choosing E-learning platform?
Over the past 30 years of our existence, we have developed a whole body of experiences, knowledge, tools and insights that work to bring about transformation. We see a crying need for these tools and insights all over the world.
Using e-learning in a blended way is a low cost and effective way to share this knowledge globally and swiftly. We have also successfully developed ways to facilitate collaboration between leaders across geographies, thereby saving time and money.
The costs involved in e-learning are relatively lower than face to face learning. Also, the younger generations want smaller bite-sized learning inputs and experiences. Using a blended approach , with a focus on Action Learning and Business Impact serves us well.
- What are the key points that you consider while developing the E-learning content?
- Deep empathetic listening to the needs of customers, and what they consider of value;
- Clear metrics of Business Impact agreed with the customer;
- Being creative, and multi-modal is our design of the e-learning solution;
- Designing a continuous journey with customer rather than a one of learning event;
- Focusing on action learning on the job rather than just theory;
- Keeping the content simple and visual;
- Coaching and mentoring people on their journey; and
- Relying on the resourcefulness of the learner and Group Genius during the learning journey.
- Brief us about the services that the company offers.
Pragati Leadership is India’s Pioneering organization in the space of Organizational Transformation and Leadership Development. We partner with the leading organizations across the globe to offer highly customized solutions for Collaboration, Executive Coaching, Capability building, and Integrated HR solutions.
We have a highly qualified team of Consultants, Facilitators, and Coaches with valuable hands-on corporate work experience to draw upon. Our team includes several former CXOs and has conducted thousands of programs for a varied set of organizations with many different challenges in the space of Leadership Development, Building Collaboration and Organizational Transformation.
- What are the challenges in the Education Sector in India?
- Being cut off from the reality of life in India as it is.
- Focusing too much on theory rather than application
- Not drawing upon student’s gifts and talents
- Making education top down and control oriented.
- Not teaching the fundamental learning skills like, creativity, design thinking etc.
- Not being based on a holistic understanding of life
- Not focusing on Character, Mindfulness, Compassion and Values.
- Please share the latest technology that the company is utilizing to offer better learning solutions.
The company uses cutting edge Mobile based learning solutions to address the needs of a younger workforce. We also have partners in digital simulation and gamification to achieve a deeper learning experience. We bring engaging content, tailored solutions and technology together to produce effective and customized learning solutions.
- How does the firm intend to handle its Societal Responsibility? Please mention any special charity or program as such.
Pragati Leadership has NGO ‘Pragati Foundation’ (PF) as its CSR arm. We work on the empowerment of youth and women through the development of sustainable livelihood. Our larger vision is good work for all. Over 10,000 underprivileged persons have passed through the PF experience and have come out brimming with self-confidence, joyfulness, empathy, peace and dignity.
We are also active partners of Charter for Compassion under which the initiatives of Poorna Pune (Compassionate Pune), Annadata Citizens Movement for Save Food and facilitating interaction between children in Indian and Pakistani schools are all part of our CSR work.
- What would be your advice for the budding start-ups and entrepreneurs in the industry?
- Constantly seek guidance from your deepest core of creativity and confidence in short and frequent moments of Silence. This will keep you anchored in an unshakable source of creativity and confidence;
- Focus, Focus and Focus!! Keep your eyes focused on a few key objectives. Avoid distractions like Netflix, Facebook etc.;
- Be focused on Joyful Action Now. Be quick and diligent in your action responses;
- Keep learning and innovating all the time. Be a great observer and copycat;
- Your business will only good as good as your relationships. Look after all your relationship including your family; and
- Take great care of yourself, (physically, emotionally, spiritually)You are your most important customer!
- Brief us about the company’s future perspectives
Pragati Leadership is poised for accelerated growth in the future. It aims to strengthen its solutions by doing primary research, enhancing technology based solutions, and being closer to its customers. It also will produce customized video solutions for effective Learning-on-the-Go. We are also investigating how learning can be augmented using Artificial Intelligence (AI.). Digital assessments to help evaluate leadership performance would be one more growth driver. We will be
Driving this strategy will be a robust Innovation Funnel where a pipeline of clear projects will be moved forward based on design thinking, frugal innovation, evaluation gates and deep investments in worthwhile projects.
We are confident that given our unique IPR, the creative use of Technology (especially Platforms) and Assessment Tools, we will be delivering huge value to many of our clients… new and existing ones.
