A Strengths Spotlight Conversation with Ashish Pradhan
Introduction: People as the True Engine of Growth
What separates good companies from great ones?
In an age where disruption is constant, be it through technology shifts, supply chain challenges, or changing workforce expectations, the differentiator isn’t just strategy, capital, or market share. It’s people.
The best CEOs know that profitability follows when you put people at the centre of the business. People before profits isn’t a slogan; it’s a competitive advantage. From innovation to resilience, from culture to customer loyalty, everything is amplified when leaders invest in their people first.
This philosophy took center stage in our latest Strengths Spotlight LinkedIn Live conversation featuring Ashish Pradhan, President Asia and Member of the Group Executive Committee at Siegwerk, and Abhishek Joshi, Gallup Global Strengths Coach and Practice Head at Strengths Masters. Together, they unpacked why prioritizing talent is no longer just an HR agenda; it’s a CEO’s responsibility.
Introducing the Speaker: Ashish Pradhan
Ashish Pradhan is President Asia at Siegwerk and a member of its Global Executive Committee. With close to three decades in the packaging industry, he has led multiple business turnarounds, scaled operations across Asia, and transformed Siegwerk Asia into a key growth driver for the group.
Under his leadership, Siegwerk has seen consistent top and bottom-line growth, strategic expansion into high-potential markets, and a bold shift toward sustainability, safety, and inclusion. He is credited with steering a cultural transformation across Siegwerk Asia, unlocking people’s potential as a key lever for business success.
He brings the rare combination of operational excellence, strategic clarity, and people-first leadership.
Unpacking the Discussion: Why Talent Comes First
Right from the outset, Ashish reframed the conversation around what People Before Profits means in practice.
“It’s not about ignoring profits, it’s about knowing that the surest path to profits is through your people,” he said. “When you invest in talent, you build a foundation that makes performance sustainable, even in volatile markets.”
Drawing from his experience leading across culturally diverse regions, Ashish emphasised that nurturing future-ready talent requires both global vision and local sensitivity. “What inspires someone in China may not be the same as what inspires someone in India or Vietnam. You have to understand these nuances to truly unlock potential.”
Abhishek Joshi added a strengths-based perspective: great leaders focus on individual uniqueness rather than trying to ‘fix’ weaknesses. “When people are positioned where they can use their natural talents every day, performance and engagement rise dramatically,” he explained.
The conversation also explored why talent development can’t be a side project. Ashish made it clear: “Talent is not just HR’s responsibility, it’s mine, as a CEO. If it’s not on my agenda, it won’t be on the company’s agenda.”
From building agile leadership pipelines through Learning & Development, to creating a culture where strengths-based growth becomes part of daily operations, the discussion underscored that people-first leadership is not idealism, it’s strategic realism.
Ashish illustrated this with a business example: during a period of market turbulence, Siegwerk’s Asia team was able to pivot quickly and maintain performance, not because of a flawless strategy, but because of a resilient, committed workforce. “That’s the ROI of investing in people,” he said.
Five Key Lessons from Ashish Pradhan
- People-First is Profit-First in the Long Run
Prioritising people doesn’t mean compromising on financial outcomes; it’s about securing them. When employees feel valued, supported, and trusted, they deliver results that compound over time. - Cultural Intelligence is Non-Negotiable
Leading across geographies demands sensitivity to cultural differences. Ashish stressed that leaders must adapt their engagement strategies to local contexts while staying true to a unifying vision. - CEOs Must Own the Talent Agenda
Talent strategy is too critical to be left solely to HR. CEOs must personally champion leadership development, succession planning, and cultural alignment. - Play to Strengths for Sustainable Performance
Rather than over-focusing on fixing weaknesses, Ashish believes leaders should place people where they can use their natural talents daily. This builds higher resilience, innovation, and long-term retention. - Learning & Development is a Growth Engine, Not a Cost
At Siegwerk, L&D is embedded in the business strategy, not treated as a discretionary expense. From preparing future leaders to driving agility, continuous learning keeps the organisation competitive.
Final Thoughts: Building for the Future by Building Your People
This Strengths Spotlight wasn’t just about leadership theory; it was a call to action. The future belongs to organisations that treat people as the engine, not the expense line. In a world where market conditions will always fluctuate, the differentiator will be the depth of your leadership bench, the engagement of your workforce, and the trust your culture inspires.
Ashish left us with a reminder that resonates beyond business:
“When you lead with people, profits follow. But if you chase profits at the cost of people, you may win the quarter, but you’ll lose the decade.”
For CEOs, business heads, and HR leaders alike, the message is clear: embedding a people-first philosophy isn’t optional. It’s the foundation for building companies that endure, innovate, and thrive, no matter what the market throws their way.
Quotable Highlights
- “The surest path to profits is through your people.”
- “If talent isn’t on the CEO’s agenda, it won’t be on the company’s agenda.”
- “Resilience comes from culture, not just strategy.”
[Note: The views expressed by the speaker are their own and do not represent those of their organization.]
