Episode Details

SUMMARY

Curiosity. Care. Compassion. Connection. As we learn on this episode of Gratitude Through Hard Times with Host Chris Schembra, these words define Kapil Sharma’s highly successful career as a leader known for bringing out the best in his teams. As Chief Transformation Officer at Microsoft India, he has brought home tools and lessons learned over 12 years living abroad in order to pay forward to others – particularly those who are fearful or marginalized. Throughout his career Kapil has seized opportunities and pushed himself hard, always with a sense of gratitude and commitment to giving back the gifts he has received. And for that deep well of both humanity and tenacity? Kapil gives a big tip of the hat to his mother, who lavished care and support on him from an early age. It was this foundation that enabled Kapil to take off, broaden his horizons and return to inspire others through his work transforming workplace cultures, tech stacks and customer relationships in Bengaluru (also known as Bangalore) and beyond.

You’ll learn about the Five Sage Powers for developing Positive Intelligence that have guided Kapil and the heightened acuity he attributes to both risk-taking and fear. He’s also sharing professional and personal development resources that have influenced his management style as well as the ways in which his children’s wonder and positivity are like a battery refresh when his energy runs low. Even with all today’s unsettling challenges, Kapil finds tremendous promise in human, scientific and technological advances. Pandemic has been a great leveler, he says, inviting us to take stock, prioritize and most of all model gratitude and empathy: “If we can teach (our children) to be compassionate, caring, loving, I think there will be a great outcome that they will be able to create – if they remain connected as human beings.” It’s a heartening outlook – one that we have it within us to make real!

Kapil’s engaging postings on a range of topics are available @LinkedIn.

KEY TOPICS:

• Chris opens by asking: If you could give thanks to one person you don’t credit enough, who would that be? Kapil gives a shout out to his mom, who supported her only son’s decision to leave his hometown in India to explore – which became 15 years in London. She encouraged him in every way throughout that journey.
• Based in Bengaluru (also known as Bangalore) the past four years, Kapil sees his return as an opportunity to educate his children to Indian culture as well as to show his mom gratitude and respect for all her hard work as a parent.
• About Kapil’s Sense of Service: As a young man he was driven to achieve and benefited from the generosity of wise elders and mentors. He sees his role today as one of providing the same to young people coming up behind him in India.
• Taking Risk: In order to live to his fullest potential, Kapil regularly sets challenges for himself – especially those that stretch him in ways that might be of service to others (like the decision to move his family back to India).
• Why Kapil is very tuned into inspiring hope in younger people – especially those who are unsure, overwhelmed or marginalized.
• Changing Questions, Changing Life: Kapil shares brave questions that have shaped his trajectory, which include:
• Turning Fear and Danger to Advantage: Kapil sees in today’s unsettled crypto, stock and real estate markets an opportunity to hustle. And therein are gifts:
• How Covid19 has proved a great leveler, forcing all of us to ask:
• Kapil rejects the idea that we can’t change the system. We can spur small changes in one person’s world that chip away at larger systemic issues.
• Reframing hustling as staying positive, active and growth-oriented.