1^st November 2023, Anshu Arora

Author of the book ‘Candid Conversations With Anshu Arora’

Anshu Arora is a Global Master Facilitator, Speaker Coach, Pecha-Kucha Coach, Executive Coach, Certified Storyteller, Author, Podcaster, and Experiential Training Lead. She has been acknowledged for Speaker Coaching on National and International Platforms.
Anshu works with the C-Suite on simulation designs.

She has 87 Partners across EMEA, APAC, US, CWAR, UAE, Australasia, Nordic Region & Sri Lanka and has delivered successful workshops 
live and virtually.

Industries where she has offered solutions are Aerospace, Cloud Computing, FMCG, Insurance, Warehousing solutions, Health, Wellness & Nutrition, Real Estate, Govt. Sector Undertaking, Power Utility, Automotive, Petroleum, Engineering/FMCG / Confectionaries, Telecom, BPO, IT, Insurance, Consumer Electronics, , Overland Transport & Air Freight, Wines & Spirits Business, Packaging, Healthcare, Consumer Goods, Sanitary Ware, Social Cause and even Educational Institutions to name a few.

Her Certifications include  Executive Coaching  Speaking UP – Presenting to C-Suite, Leadership and Decision Makers  Powerful Storytelling  Power Speaking – Impact Presentations  Hi-Tech Speaking Presentations for Technical Content  Train The Trainer  Selling Skills based on the REED ODPEC/ DISC Model  Experiential Learning – Outbound Interventions  Customer First  Lost Dutchman’s Goldmine- an experiential Learning Program  Exceleron – an Experiential Learning Program on Values & Ethics.

https://youtu.be/cIFsTsHD98A?si=3BJgyoLeZKZeeaUt

Let’s Get Inspired!

In Conversation with Anshu Arora
– Preeti Juneja

Q. The term “Chief Synergist” is not a widely recognized or standard role in most organizations. What made you take up this title? How is it different from being called a CEO? We did an interview with Ms. Janvi Tiwari, who calls herself the Chief Menstruating Officer at SOQO because her space concerns women’s health & hygiene. Is this something new and catching up?

If we understand my role in Metamorphosis In-Corporate, it would automatically lead to why I chose Chief Synergist as a Leadership title.

My role in my organization is to simulate synergies and combined power. To create a sync between the problem statement of my business partners and our solution Idea. I am responsible for clearing blockages and ensuring a free flow of creative problem-solving ideas. Since I act both as a facilitator and a catalyst, the title Synergist makes sense.

This thought process connects in toto with Ms. Janvi Tiwari’s, where she has attached her goal and the purpose to her title.

Q. In your book, you have interviewed well-known personalities from varied backgrounds. What intrigued you about them for writing a book? What was the initial theme before interviewing them? Did that change in the process?

Is the proverbial ‘cross the bridge’ a reality?

What Intrigued me to write the book? The Kola Superdeep Borehole in north-west Russia is the world’s deepest human-made hole with a depth of 12,262 meters. Situationally and Mentally I had fallen into something similar. The situation I faced was not unique, however, I was hit hard, and it took me some time to register these events. I had almost begun to believe that I belonged there, in that hole, until I saw a ray of light, and I wanted to follow it to come out.

This ray of light was other people who were fighting bigger battles with even bigger smiles. This book happened when I decided that I wanted to pay forward. Pay forward what I had learnt from my exit from that deep hole. That was step 1.

I then laid out the challenges on paper. The challenges that I wanted to address. I was not searching for a particular popular individual, I was researching the challenges that I wanted to address in the book. I tapped into my network and the network of my network, and the dots started to join. Soon enough, I had 11 people, 11 perspectives and 11 true stories of extraordinary grit, courage and resilience. The book has been classified in the category of – Inspirational Biographies. This is not a dark or sad book. This is a book of hope. I am sure anyone who reads it will find something that resonates.

Speaking of the theme – initially, it was different. Yes, I changed it completely. Earlier, it was led by the interviewees. Then, I took on as a visionary and author.

Attraversiamo, is the biggest truth I have experienced. This Italian word that means, “let’s cross over” has been etched on my body and in my mind forever. It is up to us completely to say that the situation I am in is not final. Nothing in life is etched on stone. We can move and attempt to change any and every situation we are in. It may take a long time, but it can happen, for sure. Hence, “cross the bridge” is not a phrase or emotion; it is a life strategy—a strategy to not accept the current reality if that does not resonate with oneself.

Q. Working with many big brands like Nestle, Kohler, Topsoe, and the big giants in the Cloud computing space is a privilege. During crises, how do you play a catalyst in fostering collaboration, teamwork, and cross-functional cooperation with grit, courage and resilience? How have you re-instated the learnings from Candid Conversations in the corporate sector?

I do that all the time, not just in crisis! Being a sharp observer, which in fact, is a pre-requisite for my profession – sitting at the perch, I watch from the outside what needs to be changed on the inside. In many ways, the book – Candid Conversations with Anshu Arora also does that.

Who is a professional, if not a sum of the experiences that he or she has? Why do we travel? Why do we seek a global perspective? Why do we seek variety and exposure? Why do we network? Why do we want to sit in the C-Suite room? Why do we want to go to the factories to learn the reality of the floor? Why do we do concern validation studies?

The answer to all these questions is – “To understand the conversation”. The skills needed as a Leader are not always taught in Universities.

Since my book has emerged from reality and biographies, it presents not just 11 but umpteen real-life conversations that hold true in the corporate world. To share a few:

The critical conversation that comes to life for the Leaders through the book is the understanding that not all people in the team will have the same capability and capacity. Like the mountaineers and expedition leaders in my book, future Leaders will have to become relevant to each member of the team. Based on individual potential, competence and tenacity, Leaders may have to have a conversation similar to what an Everest Base Camp Leader does.

“Ask teams to:
Take 40 steps at a time and sit down.
Just get to the First camp and sit down.
Then, get ready for the next 40.”

Hence, whenever a goal appears far or becomes overwhelming for team members, it may help the Leaders to break the goal journey to a camp-by-camp perspective rather than focusing on the big summit all the time.  The world today is about understanding individual capacity, capability and tenacity. Respecting individual needs and challenges and supporting their journeys, 40 steps at a time.  

The Corporate world and future leaders would have to understand that addressing concerns around Diversity, Equity and Inclusion will be an essential mandate for success. As well as consider having a holistic perspective which acknowledges issues around identity and mental health. To add, leaders will have to create policies and even share tables to not only understand the holistic view but also to lead by example.

Many more learnings from each chapter of the book can be incorporated in the real corporate world. “The Power of communication, not holding up thoughts and being expressive, you’re ready when you’re baked” are a few more examples.

Q. Stories can be very powerful. They can inspire, a reflection of ourselves, or change the direction of the way we live life. On a personal level, has the book experience helped you find a new you?

Well, sometimes you are not writing the book. The Book is writing you!

All the people in the book, and even those whom I interviewed but did not include, came into my life to teach me a lesson. These lessons were my “getting ready for a change” source. The idea of the book is for readers to understand that someone whom I relate to could fight back, if someone whose life’s incidents are similar to mine could find a solution, then so can I.

The idea of the book is to help people look at life’s difficult moments with hope and positivity. The book encourages people to communicate their concerns and have the perseverance to know that if something has not worked out, that is perhaps because- you’re not baked yet.

While I was writing about these lessons and understanding them in-depth, they were working in my head, too. These lessons were clouding my subconscious, helping me to be realistic and encouraging me to fight back gracefully. ‘Anshu Arora 2.0’ definitely has the book in the background.

I would like to believe that I do try to walk the talk. Every time I ask someone to be perseverant, a part of me pulls up the moral barometer to question my own stance in difficult moments. The book always keeps a check on me, especially for – “grace under pressure”.

Q. With so many startups mushrooming, entrepreneurs are in need of a coach or a mentor. How do you help people in their individual capacities to be confident, effective communicators & powerful leaders? Do you have a programme to help people become powerful communicators?

I am a Global C-Suite Master Facilitator and coach with 26 years of experience. I am a Speaker Coach, Pecha Kucha Coach, Executive Progressive Coach and a Certified Storyteller. As I deliver solutions to 89 Partners across EMEA, APAC, US, CWAR, UAE, Australasia, Nordic Region & Sri Lanka, I keep my passion alive by taking the journey of my book one step forward each day.

I am a research, evidence and concern validation study-based professional. Whatever project I have at hand, whether facilitation, simulation design or coaching, I try to base it on solid analysis and homework. This leads to a customized solution each and every time.

As a professional, I neither offer nor believe in canned programs. Any intervention that is a tick in the calendar does not excite me at all. I believe in the process of metamorphosis and like to support people in completing their transformational journey. If I can leave an individual better than I found him or her, I believe I have done the job.

I can recall the journey of coaching a high-flying C-suite speaker. He had to take on the Global stage to represent his organization. I remember working with him not only on the content, delivery and presence but also on building a passionate connection with the topic. That is how people who know me as a professional often define me – passionate. I am equally passionate about a Leadership coaching assignment as I am about my cup of coffee!

Knowledge, homework, customization, handholding, achievement of the desired outcome and a thick dash of passion and humility – that is how I approach my solutions.

Q. When you begin to understand the philosophy of life, you become a better person. Is it true? Should we turn to answers in mythology, religion and literature? Interesting concepts in the book, like Pura Vida, Nemawashi, and Ithaca are something you learned, experienced or read in books?

I am a spiritually inclined individual, and I am not religious at all. I believe that the values based on which we lead our lives, the honesty with which we earn our bread, and the humility with which we treat the people is the equal karma for me.

Pura Vida- meaning pure life, for me, is a life lived well in humility, travelled enough, worked passionately and one where I made a difference.   

I experienced, studied and read about all the philosophies covered in my book. I take pride in sharing that I live by these as well. In the words of Oprah Winfrey – ‘The greatest discovery of all times is that a person can change his/her future by merely changing his/her attitude’. To become a better person, I try to accept feedback, create action and work on it. Philosophy alone cannot make a person better. It has to be backed with accountability, ownership and action. 

Rapid-Fire:

1. Why do people want their stories to be captured? To give purpose to their lessons.
2. Is Anshu a better coach or a better writer? A hungry learner.
3. Who is your favorite public speaker? One whose content makes me say – A-ha!
4. How can a life coach help where a therapist can’t? You cannot help anyone. You have to support individuals while they learn to help themselves.

One-Liners:

1. Candid Conversations is about: 11 True Stories of Extraordinary Grit, Courage and Resilience.
2. Metamorphosis helps to: Evolve
3. I love the way people: Connect
4. The biggest milestone in my life is: My first book, Candid Conversations with Anshu Arora

DREAMWEB INDIA IS GRATEFUL TO ANSHU ARORA FOR SPARING HER VALUABLE TIME WITH US FOR THIS INCREDIBLE INTERVIEW. MAY THE BOOK ‘CANDID CONVERSATIONS WITH ANSHU ARORA’ TRAVEL PLACES WITH A RAY OF HOPE.