A former executive with global experience at a multinational telecommunication company says leadership is seeing a shift from traditional authoritative leadership to a more empathetic, servant-based model pointing to “holistic leadership” being the gateway to being a good effective leader.
Ashish Saxena has worked across multiple continents for global giants like Alcatel-Lucent Enterprise, Nokia and General Electric. He is now a Holistic Leadership coach at Priority Management in New Zealand.
Priority Management New Zealand is part of a global network spanning 55 offices around the world, working with many of the fortune 100 companies training people in productivity improvement and organisational development.
Saxena says leadership is all about listening, empathy, and self-awareness. He says those sentiments offer a juxtaposition to traditional, top-down management styles that have long dominated the business landscape.
“Fundamentally, communication is about listening, not just speaking,” Saxena said.
“As leaders, we need to focus on understanding people, not just getting them to execute our commands.”
This philosophy of “servant leadership” has been a guiding principle for Saxena, who credits his upbringing in a close-knit Indian village for shaping his holistic approach to business.
“In my village, we didn’t have the concept of distant relatives – everyone was family,” he recalled.
“My grandfather would teach us that true leadership is about serving others, not asserting your authority.”
Saxena’s grandfather also imparted the importance of asking the right questions, rather than simply seeking answers. This lesson has stayed with him throughout his career, informing his ability to navigate complex challenges with creativity and empathy.
“Too often, we’re trained to focus on problems and how to fix them. But the real key is to ask the right questions – ones that unlock new perspectives and inspire collaborative solutions.”
This emphasis on collaboration over control is especially relevant in today’s fast evolving business landscape, where agility and adaptability are increasingly crucial. Saxena believes that the most effective leaders are those who can foster an environment of open dialogue and mutual respect.
“In the past, leadership was all about authority and top-down decision making,” he said.
“But now, with the rise of AI and technology, we’re seeing a shift towards more empathetic, servant-based leadership styles.”
Saxena’s own leadership journey has been shaped by this evolution, as he has learned to balance his technical expertise with a deeper understanding of human dynamics and organisational culture.
“When I first started out, I was very focused on mastering the technical aspects of my work,” he admitted. “But over time, I realised that the real key to success was in understanding people – their motivations, their fears, their aspirations.”
This realisation has led Saxena to place a greater emphasis on mentorship and coaching, both for himself and the teams he has led. He believes that the most effective leaders are those who can identify and empower the “influencers” within an organisation – the individuals who may not hold formal authority, but who wield significant sway over their colleagues.
“It’s not about imposing change from the top down. It’s about finding the right people who can help drive that change from within, through their own credibility and respect.”
Saxena continues to lead teams, both in New Zealand and around the world, his message is clear: true success in business comes not from domination, but from collaboration; not from control, but from empowerment.
“At the end of the day, we’re all on this journey together. The sooner we can embrace that, the sooner we can unlock the true potential of our teams and our organisations.”
You can hear more about his insights on leadership in the latest episode of Notes From The Executive Podcast, hosted by Mina Amso. The podcast features interviews with CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders from New Zealand, offering valuable perspectives on business and leadership.
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Podcast by Mina Amso, Host of Notes From The Executive
