The Leaders Who Changed Me

A personal tribute to mentors and life-changing conversations

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

There’s a common belief that mentors are always formal, structured, and long-term. But in my experience, the most profound lessons often come through casual chats, unexpected moments, and quiet conversations that leave a deep mark.

Over the past 30 years—starting as a wide-eyed 18-year-old—I’ve had the privilege of working with and learning from people who unknowingly shaped who I became. As I reflect on this journey, I realise that these mentors didn’t just guide my career. They quietly rewired how I think, how I act, how I lead, and how I grow.

Some of them were teachers, others colleagues, and some just wise voices at the right moment. Their influence can’t be measured in years, but in turning points.

As I step into a new phase of life at 49, I’ve come to appreciate that it wasn’t titles or tools that truly shaped me—it was people.

In this two-part reflection, I want to introduce you to eight men each of who taught me something unforgettable.

This first part focuses on my formative years—the phase where I moved from student to professional, and from execution to transformation. These stories show how powerful even a single moment of guidance can be—if you're listening.

1. Sridharan – The Power of Staying Ahead
Year: 1997 | Location: Indian Oil Corporation, Chennai

This hallway conversation changed my career trajectory.

Sridharan was my manager during my CA industrial training at Indian Oil Corporation. He also headed the managers' union and commanded deep respect across levels with his mere presence.

One day, after a review session, he glanced at my half-baked Excel file, smiled, and said: “Without technology, you’ll do good things. With it, you’ll do great things.”

That one line stayed with me. It became the reason I never feared technology again.

Moral: Staying updated with technology isn’t about tools. It’s about mindset.
Takeaway: What’s your relationship with technology? Are you adapting to change—or quietly resisting it without realising?

2. The Factory General Manager – The Snakes and the Ground Beneath
Year: 1999 | Location: Remote factory, Andhra Pradesh

A quiet lesson in empathy from a cement plant.

My first job was with Madras Cements. As part of their audit team, I visited a remote plant where we often spotted snakes on campus. One evening, I casually asked the General Manager: “Aren’t you scared?”

He looked around calmly and said: “Athreya, we built this factory in their home. Not the other way around.”

That sentence hit me hard. It wasn’t just about wildlife. It was about empathy, about recognising the unseen cost of progress, and respecting what came before us.

Moral: Empathy isn’t always loud. Sometimes, it’s just knowing we’re standing on someone else’s ground.
Takeaway: The next time you're building something new—at work or in life—pause to consider what (or who) existed before you.

3. The Vice President at Sanmar – The Bond That Paid Off
Year: Late 2000 | Location: Sanmar Group, Chennai

A hallway conversation that changed my career trajectory.

Six months into my finance role at Sanmar, I got a rare opportunity: join their SAP (Systems, Applications, and Products in Data Processing) implementation team. But there was a catch—a three-year bond, with a penalty of ₹3 lakhs.

I was nervous. I knew nothing about ERP (Enterprise Resource Planning) or SAP. Sensing my hesitation during a hallway chat, the VP of Audit, Nagarajan, said: “You’re not spending, Athreya. You’re investing. What feels like a big amount today will return to you many times over.”

That was all I needed. I signed the bond—and unknowingly stepped into the defining pivot of my career.

Moral: The best returns come from decisions that feel risky but are rooted in purpose.

Takeaway: What opportunity are you holding back from because it feels risky today? Could it be the very thing your future self will thank you for? Ask yourself many times before you let something slip by.

4. R. Srinivasan – The Mentor Who Let Me Fly
Year: 2003–2005 | Location: HP, Bangalore

Leadership that stayed with me long after I moved on.

R. Srinivasan led the SAP Business Warehouse (BW) team for Procter & Gamble. I initially helped him with finance questions. Eventually, he brought me into his team. From there, we grew from five to 85 members.

He wasn’t just a manager. He was the kind of leader who rolled up his sleeves, who stayed back late when the team needed him, and who always had your back.

There was one Friday I remember vividly. I had to catch a train to Chennai to see my wife and newborn. I was also picking up a few things for my mother, who would stay alone in Bangalore. Srini asked for a task to be done before leaving. I hesitated. He offered to do it himself. Irritated, I went back, completed it, and as I said goodbye, he put his hand on my shoulder: “Don’t worry about Amma. I’m here in Bangalore. If she needs anything, I’ll take care.”

And when I applied for a promotion later, I was right beside him when HR called. He didn’t say my name out loud, but I heard him say: “He’ll be an asset wherever he goes. Take him. Blindly.”

I never forgot that moment.

Moral: Great mentors don’t just teach. They let you fly—even when it’s hard to let go.
Takeaway: Think about how you show up for others. Are you offering control? Or are you creating confidence in their ability to fly?

Coming Up in Part 2:

Who’s changed the way you think, work, or lead? Share this post with someone who’s been your Sridharan, Nagarajan, or Srini.

And don’t miss Part 2 where I’ll share four more stories—of mentors who shaped my thinking as a transformation leader, coach, and speaker. From driving impact in global SAP projects to sharing the stage with a national author and working alongside coaching masters, the journey only got richer.

Picture Abhi Baaki Hai.

See you in Part 2.