Meeting a Leader Who Redefines Responsibility
Some conversations don’t just inspire you in the moment.
They stay with you. They quietly reshape how you think, lead, and observe the world.
For a long time, I had been connected with Dr. S. Somanath ISRO through The Power Speak. I have always believed that leadership grows when we stay close to people who build institutions not personal brands. People who carry responsibility larger than themselves. People who work silently, consistently, and with purpose.
Leaders like him.
From Knowing to Truly Understanding
Knowing someone and truly spending time with them are very different experiences.
After his insightful two-hour session and an engaging interaction with the audience, I had the privilege of spending time with him one-on-one over dinner. What followed was not a formal discussion, but an honest and deeply enriching conversation.
We spoke about:
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Leadership and responsibility
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Science and innovation
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Geopolitics and global collaboration
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Pressure, failure, and resilience
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The unseen side of success
Meeting Dr. Somanath as the Chairman of ISRO was truly a privilege.
Leadership Behind Chandrayaan-3
As Dr. Somanath ISRO chief, he has been at the forefront of one of India’s most defining scientific achievements Chandrayaan-3.
This success was not just about landing on the Moon.
It was about:
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Restoring belief after failure
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Rebuilding national confidence
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Proving that learning from setbacks is the strongest form of progress
That achievement reflected leadership at its finest.
A Session That Held the Room Still
Earlier that day, I attended his session at The Park, Indore. For two hours, the room was fully present no distractions, no noise, only focused listening.
He spoke with:
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Clarity
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Depth
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Simplicity that made complex ideas accessible
What stood out most was his genuine connection with young minds.
Inspiring the Next Generation
Dr. Somnath ISRO genuinely enjoys interacting with children and students. Young minds in the audience asked questions about:
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The universe
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Planets and black holes
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Space travel and exploration
He answered every question patiently, encouraging curiosity and imagination.
It was a powerful reminder:
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True scientists never lose curiosity
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True leaders never lose humility
A Journey Built on Discipline, Not Glory
During the session, he spoke about his journey that began in 1985, when he joined ISRO as a young engineer.
Over the decades, he worked on:
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Multiple rocket and launch vehicle missions
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Repeated testing and iterations
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Long nights and failed experiments
Despite his stature, he consistently credited:
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Teams
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Systems
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Mentors
Not once did the conversation revolve around personal glory.
That itself was a lesson.
A Philosophy That Builds Leaders
One thought he shared stayed with me long after the session ended:
When someone makes a mistake, do not remove them. Give them a bigger responsibility. That trust creates leaders.
This philosophy explains the DNA of ISRO.
At ISRO:
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Failures are studied, not hidden
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Teams are empowered, not punished
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Trust replaces fear
The journey to Chandrayaan-3 stands as living proof of this approach.
Quiet Confidence Over Dinner
Over dinner, our conversation deepened further. We spoke about:
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Future space missions
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Global space collaboration
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Geopolitics and science diplomacy
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The pressure of national expectations
What stood out most was his composure.
There was:
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No urgency to impress
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No exaggeration
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Only calm confidence rooted in preparation and belief in people
Leadership Without Noise
In a world driven by instant validation and loud success, Dr. somanath as the chairman of isro, represents a rare kind of leadership:
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Quiet
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Consistent
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Purpose-driven
His journey reminds us that institutions are built not by speed alone, but by patience, culture, and trust.
India’s space journey is not merely about technological milestones.
It is about showing the world that disciplined leadership and collective effort can create history without noise.
Walking Away Grounded
As I walked away from that evening, I did not feel overwhelmed.
I felt grounded.
Grounded in the belief that:
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Leadership is not about control, but responsibility
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Not about spotlight, but service
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Not about perfection, but learning
Meeting Dr. Somanath as the Chairman of ISRO reinforced one powerful truth:
Leadership is not about position.
It is about responsibility.
And responsibility, when carried with humility and courage, has the power to change nations.
Always learning from legends.
