15/08/2026
This little girl is me with my dad when I was eight. I remember this day like yesterday.
Why? Because it was intense.
It was on the way to Nathu La Pass, at over 14,000 feet above sea level. Not only was it freezing cold, it was hard to breathe.
“Take 3 steps and stop for 3 breaths” were the instructions.
Exciting adventure, right?
But can you imagine leading a team for an extended period in such severe conditions?
A team comprising troops from diverse parts of the country, speaking different languages. Disconnected from their families for months. Reduced cognitive function due to high altitude. Constant vigil to guard the border. Infinite snow and avalanches making living conditions only worse.
Leading while keeping the team motivated in conditions where positive psychology can go for a toss is what my dad was doing there, and in many similarly challenging conditions.
No coaching certification or book has come close to the leadership lessons I have imbibed from being raised in a family which has served four generations in the Indian Army.
Leadership is so much more than frameworks, styles and titles. It’s a way of being. And it is the essence of this that I bring to the table in my coaching conversations.
My grandfather, Major Brahm Sat, is my hero.
I never got to meet him. He was martyred in the 1962 war, giving his life while leading his troops.
That’s the level of sacrifice leadership can call for.
This Independence Day, I remember with gratitude those who led, served and sacrificed so that we could live in freedom.
Happy Independence Day, India 🇮🇳
Flow on!
Nikita
