The Leaders Who Changed Me - 2

A personal tribute to mentors and life-changing conversations

By Venkatesh Athreya: A transformation consultant at work, and a leadership coach by passion

In Part 1, I shared stories from my formative years that taught me to embrace change, empathy, and courage.

The next set of mentors shaped me in different ways: as a transformation consultant, a speaker, and a coach. Here the the lessons got deeper, the stakes higher, and the transformation more personal.

5. Karsten – The Firestarter
Year: 2013 | Location: Maersk, Chennai

I had been with HP for over a decade when a single 90-minute conversation with Karsten changed my course. He was heading transformation at Maersk, and they were at the bottom of every SAP maturity benchmark. The mission was to move the organization to the top quartile through nine major transformation projects.

Karsten wasn’t loud, but he was intense. Mention a topic like invoice automation or reconciliations; he would lay out three tools, four vendors, and the pros and cons of each. That kind of readiness comes from constant input: reading, listening, and reflecting.

It changed me.

I began soaking up information—not just from SAP and finance but also from behavioural science, coaching, and storytelling. That mental discipline made me sharper and more structured. I started creating metaphors on the fly, simplifying complexity, and making decisions with clarity.

Moral: Some mentors don’t teach you what to think. They teach you how to never stop thinking.

Takeaway: When did you last feed your curiosity?

6. Manish – The Power of Tough Conversations
Year: 2016 | Location: United Spirits (Diageo), India

Transformation is also about people, conversations, and courage. And no one taught me that better than Manish. At United Spirits, our steering committees were packed with business heads, IT teams, process leads, and implementation partners. And then there was Manish: calm, focused, and relentless in asking tough questions.

People feared those meetings, but I always admired him because he didn’t ask questions to trap people. He asked questions to seek clarity and to push for better outcomes. There were days we walked out feeling bruised. But looking back, I know the pressure helped us deliver one of the most successful SAP transformations. Within a year, the global parent company began looking to United Spirits for benchmarks.

Proper accountability doesn’t make you weaker. It makes your outcomes stronger.

Moral: Real change comes from tough questions and more challenging conversations.
Takeaway: Are you avoiding a conversation that could change the outcome? At times, leadership means being respectfully assertive.

7. Pattabhi Ram – The Standard I Strive For
Year: 2020–Present | Location: Chennai, Pondicherry, Several places.

Pattabhi Ram was once my CA professor, but our real connection began several years later. I met him again in Puducherry after I had published my first book. Wex travelled together from a seminar where he was the keynote speaker—and I was driving him to the airport. I quietly handed him my book and took a selfie.

That sparked a new phase.

I watched him closely over the next few years—in national contests, teacher workshops, and student forums. His preparation, articulation, and the clarity with which he delivered complex ideas were like watching a masterclass. Accurate communication blends preparation with presence. He once topped the audience feedback in an ICT Academy event with thousands of professors watching ahead of celebrated media speakers. I’ve shared speaking platforms with him and always treat his session as a benchmark to reach. He doesn’t just talk. He connects.

Moral: Some mentors don’t need to teach you. Their excellence alone makes you want to raise your game.
Takeaway: Who do you benchmark yourself against—not to compete, but to stay inspired?

8. Chad Hall – The Master Who Made It Simple
Year: 2019–Present | Location: Online, ECC Coach Certification

When I stepped into coaching, I met Chad Hall—author of Coach the Person, Not the Problem. He didn’t train us. He brought presence. Every session was calm, rich, and full of clarity.

I’ve read his books—The Language of Life and Business Coaching, Coaching for Growth. Those books teach you more in just two hours than most courses in weeks. But what stayed with me most was this: “True mastery shows up as simplicity and clarity.”

That line changed how I coach, consult, and communicate. Today, I try to create clarity for others—not just because it helps them but also because it strengthens me in the subject. Moral:  When you understand something fully, you can simplify it for others. Do that.

Takeaway: True expertise is felt, not flaunted.

Closing Reflection

These weren’t planned mentorships. Some were born in cars, hallways, or short projects. But they all left lasting marks. If there’s one thing I hope you take away from this—it’s that mentorship is everywhere.

You must be present enough to spot it, humble enough to receive it, and brave enough to apply it.