Huddle Preview 7: Business leaders to discuss navigating challenges at Hindu Huddle 2026

The past few years have forced business leaders to contend with challenges few could have anticipated. Geopolitical tensions, economic uncertainty, technological disruption, changing workforce dynamics, and the rapid emergence of artificial intelligence have altered the environment in which organisations operate, often requiring difficult decisions to be made with incomplete information.

In such circumstances, leadership is tested not only by the ability to respond to immediate challenges but also by the capacity to prepare organisations for what lies ahead. Questions of judgement, adaptability, organisational culture, and long-term vision have assumed renewed significance.

These issues will be explored in a session titled “The Architecture of Leadership – Designing Blueprints for a Volatile World” at The Hindu Huddle 2026 on June 5.

Moderated by Navaneeth L.V., Chief Executive Officer, The Hindu Group, the discussion will bring together Neeti Sharma, CEO, TeamLease Digital; Praveen Someshwar, Managing Director and CEO, United Spirits Limited and Member, Global Diageo Executive Committee; Shailendra Katyal, Managing Director, Lenovo India Pvt. Ltd., and Site Leader, Lenovo Group; and Ganesan R, Head, Corporate Centre at L&T Construction, AI and Digital Technologies.

Drawing on their experiences across technology, talent management, consumer business, engineering, and digital transformation, the panellists will discuss how leadership approaches are shaped over time and how they evolve in response to changing circumstances. The discussion will touch upon the values that guide decision-making during periods of uncertainty, and the balance leaders often must strike between analytical rigour and personal judgement.

The discussion will also focus on the practical realities of leading organisations through change. As industries undergo transformation and business cycles become less predictable, leaders are increasingly required to empower teams, distribute responsibility, and remain flexible enough to alter course when conditions demand it.

Another strand of the discussion will centre on organisational renewal. Set against the broader theme of “A World in Transition”, the session will offer perspectives on how leaders are navigating uncertainty while seeking to build institutions that remain relevant, resilient, and prepared for the future.