It is both an honour and a joy to celebrate the incredible journeys of leaders who started their careers when supply chain was seen as just backroom logistics and have since risen to influential roles, shaping the future of their organizations. At our recent conference in New Delhi, we had the privilege of recognizing these exceptional trailblazers who have set new benchmarks in the industry. Through engaging interactions, we uncovered not just their professional brilliance but also their ability to maintain a seamless balance between work and personal life. This series is a tribute to their lasting impact—motivating the next generation to walk the path they have paved.
What has been your passion project till date?
Yashpal Singh Negi
Yashpal Singh Negi, Executive Director, Global Autotech Ltd.: Passion Projects have been Localization & Cost Optimization.
Gaurav Dua, Former Head – Global Supply Chain Development, Pernod Ricard: I co-authored a book with my wife during Lockdown, when I was in France, and she was stuck in India. It took us one year to write the book through Video calls and emails, which was very interesting.
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta, Supply Chain Strategist: There have been multiple passion projects throughout my journey. Designing an efficient supply chain for fruit juices, optimizing transport in complex supply chain networks, and currently mentoring young minds and developing future supply chain leaders have been particularly fulfilling. Each of these projects involved overcoming unique challenges, innovating processes, and making a tangible impact on efficiency and effectiveness.
How do you unwind yourself after a tough day @ work?
Yashpal Singh Negi: I always ensure a maximum of 30 minutes travel time between workplace & home to have quality time with family & workplace. I start my day in the morning at 6 am with one-hour Yoga & Pranayama to remain fresh for the day.
Gaurav Dua: Mostly my go-to unwinding mode is lifting heavy weights, so I enjoy my time in gym and it is a thrill trying to reach your max 1 Rep capacity or the weight at which you will fail!
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta: Poetry and astrology are my go-to escapes. Writing poetry helps me channel my thoughts, while astrology offers a different perspective—sometimes, even supply chains feel like they follow planetary alignments! Apart from that, unwinding with friends over a good conversation and laughter is the perfect stressbuster.
How do you manage the pressures and the challenges that come with the job?
Yashpal Singh Negi: Pressure & Challenge are inevitable with external & internal factors. I always review with the team for short term & long-term solutions at system level to avoid repeated issues.
Gaurav Dua:
Gaurav Dua: I have learned to leave the office at 6 PM (I start early around 8 AM) and then I have enough time to unwind at the gym or read a book or meet friends, which is a good work-life balance.
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta: Pressure is an inevitable part of work life at every level. I believe the key is to take it as a challenge rather than a burden. I focus on seeing opportunities within challenges, collaborating across functions—both inter and intra—and setting targets that are ambitious yet realistic. Managing expectations, both my own and others’, plays a crucial role in navigating high-pressure situations effectively. At the end of the day, a well-balanced approach and the right mindset make all the difference.
What’s your Success Mantra?
Yashpal Singh Negi: No Fear No Favor, No Excuse Management
Gaurav Dua: Success is a very relative term, for me, it is work-life balance. I don't seek perfection, but continuous improvement is success for me. If every day we are better by a little bit in everything that we do is very satisfactory.
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta: Hard work, perseverance, and passion for whatever you decide to do. Success is rarely an overnight story or a coincidence—it comes from consistently putting in the effort, staying committed despite challenges, and truly enjoying what you do. I am highly influenced by the teachings of the Bhagavad Gita, especially 'Karmanye vadhikaraste, ma phaleshu kadachana'—focus on your efforts, not just the results. When you give your best without obsessing over outcomes, success follows naturally.
What’s your Leadership Style?
Yashpal Singh Negi: I inspire the team & develop success planning at all level. I believe on Open door policy & structured engagement with all the stakeholders.
Gaurav Dua: There is no one leadership style. Leadership is contextual and situational. I have been in global roles having large teams in different parts of the world, so culture is very important to manage such diverse teams. Be open and transparent, no micromanagement and trust is very important.
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta: My leadership style is built on trust, empowerment, and collaboration. I believe in creating an environment where people feel trusted to take ownership, empowered to make decisions, and supported through collaboration. A high-performing team thrives when individuals are given the right guidance and freedom to innovate while working towards a shared vision. When people feel valued and trusted, they naturally bring their best to the table.
One tip to Survive & Sustain in the unforeseen situations / your advice to Next Gen Supply Chain professionals…
Yashpal Singh Negi: Escalate unforeseen situation immediately to get support/ solution before it becomes uncontrolled situation. Leadership should have a balanced mix of IQ, EQ, SQ, AQ & DQ. A confident person is much better than a talented person who always keeps questioning himself. Keep working on your strength as they will take you out of the difficult situation.
Gaurav Dua: Trust your team, question your process, have a continuous improvement plan. Keep your business objective and end customer in mind and reduce your cycle times.
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta: Self-confidence, adaptability, and always having a backup plan—these are crucial for navigating unforeseen situations. The supply chain world is dynamic, and the ability to explore new ways of solving problems is what sets professionals apart. Trust your skills, be open to innovation, and always have a Plan B (or even a Plan C) ready to tackle disruptions effectively.
A book that has helped you at work...
Yashpal Singh Negi: Good to Great by James C. Collins
Gaurav Dua: ‘Let the Power be with You’ is an excellent self-help book which helps me to maintain positivity.
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta: The Goal by Eliyahu Goldratt has been a game-changer for me. The book’s approach to bottleneck management, continuous improvement, and systems thinking has deeply influenced how I view operational efficiency. Its storytelling format makes complex supply chain and operations concepts easy to grasp and apply in real-world scenarios. The Theory of Constraints (TOC) from the book has been particularly impactful in shaping my problem-solving approach—focusing on the most critical constraints to drive overall performance.
A book that you can read any number of times or a movie you can watch any time...
Yashpal Singh Negi: Lagaan Movie
Gaurav Dua: I am a movie buff, so I watch a lot of movies – my favourites are Sholay and Trading Places.
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta: Book: Good to Great by Jim Collins – I love how the book breaks down what separates great companies from average ones. The concept of disciplined people, disciplined thought, and disciplined action resonates deeply with me, especially in the context of leadership and long-term success.
Movie: Lagaan – It’s a brilliant story of teamwork, strategy, and resilience against all odds. The way an underdog team comes together, learns, adapts, and triumphs is inspiring—not just in sports but in leadership and problem-solving as well.
What is the best and worst advice you have received?
Yashpal Singh Negi: Best: Never feel low even in the worst situation. Worst: Concentrate only on your function.
Gaurav Dua: Best Advice: Believe in the divine energy around you and don't build unrealistic expectations, negating the good naturally happening around you.
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta: Best Advice: Hard work and perseverance always pay off. This has proven true time and again. Success may not come instantly, but consistent effort, resilience, and the ability to push through challenges always yield results in the long run.
Worst Advice: Do what you know the best. While expertise is valuable, this advice limits growth and innovation. Sticking only to what you already know can prevent you from exploring new opportunities, learning new skills, and adapting to changing environments. The best professionals constantly challenge themselves, step out of their comfort zones, and embrace continuous learning.
What’s the best way to build a high-performing team?
Yashpal Singh Negi: Empower the team & give freedom to perform.
Gaurav Dua: High performing team can be built on mutual trust and openness. Use different and diverse strengths of your team to achieve goals, don't focus on weaknesses too much. Think of how a Grand Master plays chess to win!
Dr. Radha Mohan Gupta: Success starts with clearly defining goals and success parameters— everyone should know what they are working towards. A high-performing team thrives when they are empowered to make decisions and take ownership of their work. While consistent monitoring is essential, it’s equally important to give them the freedom to decide how to achieve their objectives.
A leader’s role goes beyond just delegation; it involves fostering a culture of learning, training, and career development. When team members see that their growth is a priority, they stay motivated, engaged, and committed to delivering their best. Let them focus on their work, and as a leader, take care of their learning and progress. ongoing sustainability challenges.
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