By: Zach Miller
Krishna Kumar is an acclaimed executive coach and leadership expert with over thirty years of experience across multiple industries and disciplines. As the Founder and Director of the Intrad School of Executive Coaching (ISEC), he is recognized for his expertise in coaching leaders and executives. He has also served as the first non-North American President of the International Association of Coaching (IAC) and has developed the innovative Laser Leadership™ model, which empowers leaders to achieve long-lasting success.
Could you please introduce yourself and share a bit about your background and journey that led you to create the Laser Leader™️ program?
I have been a leadership coach and B-school professor for over twenty years. During that time, I have actively engaged and interacted closely with hundreds of senior executives across countries and domains. During my interactions, it became clear to me that we were facing a crisis of leadership, and there was an urgent need to develop the right quality of leaders who could drive transformation and growth in the business world. Future leaders clearly exhibit great potential, but they need to be strengthened in a few critical areas.
The challenges that most leaders faced could be broadly identified as:
- The need to stay focused to achieve their objective/goal/dream in an environment full of distractions, many brought about by rapid technological advances.
- Developing the ability to continually switch from scanning the horizon (“big picture”) to monitoring the details (“small picture”).
- Leading transformation in the face of resistance to change.
The Laser Leadership™ framework equips one to adapt to a fast-changing and unpredictable world. With a laser-like focus, one cuts through the distractions and directs energy where it matters most—toward innovation, progress, and success.
Can you provide an overview of the structure of the Laser Leader™️ program? What can participants expect to learn?
Legendary martial artist Bruce Lee once said, “The successful warrior is the average man, with laser-like focus.”
Leadership is not about being extraordinary by birth—it’s about cultivating extraordinary focus and mastering the skills needed to direct our attention precisely where it matters. True leadership is not about juggling multiple tasks aimlessly—it’s about mastery. And mastery comes through focus.
The Laser Leadership™ model is built on the foundation of the Five Pillars of Laser Leadership Excellence™, a carefully identified set of core competencies that every 21st-century leader must develop. Through the Five Pillars of Laser Leadership Excellence™, we develop the ability to not just react to the world but to shape it actively.
Think of a master craftsman. They possess equal mastery over all their tools, and they select and apply each one with precision. The Laser Leader™ must do the same. Each of the Five Pillars is a tool at the leader’s disposal, and with balanced mastery, they will know when and how to apply these tools to overcome any challenge, thereby allowing them to navigate through uncertainty and emerge victorious, time after time.
How would you describe your own leadership style, and how has it influenced the development of the Laser Leader™️ program?
With my professional journey traversing multiple areas, a lot of learning and influencing have taken place. I have been a corporate executive, a leadership advisor, an international tennis coach, a B-school professor and an entrepreneur. One of my most powerful learning experiences was leading a not-for-profit global coaching organization as their worldwide President during 2016-17. Drawing on multiple established frameworks, I had to unlearn, relearn and implement a leadership style that was best suited for driving transformation. In this instance, I created Laser Leader™, helped by the model of Servant Leadership.
In developing the Laser Leader™ program, I identified the thirty key competencies that leaders need to work on to strengthen their leadership style. All these competencies are integral to and focused on in the Laser Leader™ program.
What advice would you give to individuals looking to enhance their leadership skills in today’s fast-paced environment?
I would ask the individuals who wish to enhance their leadership skills if they truly believe that they are leaders who are aware of their true worth and functioning up to their potential. If not, are they ready to rise to the challenge, harness their inner power and become a Laser Leader™?
Looking back on your own leadership journey, what are the most important lessons you’ve learned that you would want to pass on to the next generation of leaders?
As someone who is inspired by the majestic eagle, I would like to break down its qualities and highlight three lessons:
Eagle-Like Vision: Focused, Strategic, Unstoppable
The eagle soars above the world with an unparalleled view, using its panoramic vision to spot opportunities from afar. It can also zero in on its prey with a single-minded focus and balance long-term strategy with sharp execution. Like eagles, leaders must learn to rise above the noise and see the bigger picture while maintaining the ability to hone in on precise opportunities.
Building the ability to shift between the two rapidly is a hallmark of those destined for greatness. While one must plan for the future, one must also dive in with intensity when the moment calls for action.
Resilience: Soaring Above the Storm
When storm clouds gather, most birds flee to shelter. Not the eagle. Instead of retreating, the eagle uses the storm’s turbulent winds to soar higher, resting its wings as it glides above the chaos below.
Don’t just manage adversity—embrace it. Challenges become opportunities for growth, and crises fuel our evolution. In the face of uncertainty, one must rise higher, using the winds of change to our advantage. The ability to thrive through difficulty sets great leaders apart. It’s not about surviving storms; it’s about harnessing their power.
That is resilience in action, the very essence of anti-fragility.
Transformation and Renewal: The Eagle’s Metamorphosis
Eagles are not only known for their strength but also for their ability to transform. When they age, they retreat to a safe place to shed their old feathers, beaks, and claws, renewing themselves for the challenges ahead. This process of metamorphosis is essential for survival and future success.
The modern leader must undergo similar transformations. In a rapidly changing world, stepping back to renew oneself is critical. Continuous learning, growth, and self-reflection are not optional; they are essential. To lead in the future, one must shed what no longer serves us and emerge stronger, more capable, and better prepared to face the evolving demands of leadership.
Is there anything else you would like to share with our readers about your vision for leadership or the Laser Leader™️ program?
I envision the program supporting and growing the next generation of leaders who will overcome the crises and challenges prevalent in the 21st century. I desire to build a generation of leaders who will impact millions of people in the business world through practicing Laser Leadership Excellence™.
Published By: Aize Perez
