Bangalore, 2026 – Renowned leadership coach and Founder of SOIL Institute of Management Mr. Anil Sachdev has launched his latest book, The Inspired Leader: Seven Practices to Unlock Your Leadership Potential. Published by Penguin Random House, the book directly addresses the growing trust deficit in modern organizations by shifting the focus from external role models to inner self-leadership.
The launch event featured a keynote address by Chief Guest Mr. N.R. Narayana Murthy, Founder of Infosys, alongside a high-powered panel including Mr. B. Muthuraman (Former Vice Chairman, Tata Steel), Mr. Viren Shetty (Vice Chairman, Narayana Health), Professor Rishikesha Krishnan (Director, IIM Bangalore), and Ms. Rekha M. Menon (Former Chair, Accenture India).
Synthesizing decades of organizational consulting experience and 53 interviews with global corporate leaders, The Inspired Leader exposes the two fundamental myths of management: that leaders are born, and that leadership is about leading others. Instead, the text establishes self-leadership as the primary driver of organizational trust.
Speaking on the foundational philosophy behind the book, Mr. Anil Sachdev, Founder of SOIL, remarked:
“Leadership is fundamentally about leading yourself; others who trust you simply choose to come along because it aligns with their journey. The real challenge lies in co-creating organizations where individuals can express the highest versions of themselves, finding inner clarity while driving value for all stakeholders.
Endorsing the core thesis of character-driven leadership, Mr. N.R. Narayana Murthy, Founder of Infosys, shared a powerful perspective on corporate convictions:
“I define a value system as the tenets that you follow strictly even when you have to pay a certain cost for your convictions. Trust requires you to deliver on your promise and walk the talk, even if that walk is extremely tough. You will only be respected if people trust you.”
The narrative framework of the book details seven operational practices designed to bridge the business world’s chronic “knowing-doing gap.” It introduces structured tools such as Life Maps to reframe career turning points, Appreciative Inquiry’s 5-D process to uncover innate talent, and actionable cycles for whole-brain thinking and solo introspection.
The book features real-world insights from top Indian executives, exploring the corporate learning cultures of Airtel under Gopal Vittal, the leadership reflection cycles practiced by B. Muthuraman at Tata Steel, and the strategic agility of leaders like Renuka Ramnath and Amit Chandra.
The Inspired Leader provides corporate executives, HR professionals, and management students with a pragmatic architecture to navigate market volatility without compromising ethical or systemic integrity. The title is currently available across all major online platforms and physical bookstores.
About SOIL Institute of Management:
Founded in 2008, SOIL was co-created by 32 leading corporations and NGOs to build leaders with character, competence, and enthusiasm. With campuses in Gurugram and Manesar, SOIL offers specialized post-graduate programs in management focused on design thinking, mindfulness, and shared values.
