'Leadership isn’t about power, it’s about empowerment'

Leadership is often seen as a position of power, but many argue that its true essence lies in responsibility and service. Across sectors, there is a push for leadership that empowers people rather than concentrating authority at the top.
R Balasubramaniam, founder of the Swami Vivekananda Youth Movement, believes leadership should be rooted in Seva (

selfless service

) rather than individual influence. Drawing from his experience in rural India, he highlights how real leadership often emerges from the ground up. “Public health policies don’t succeed because bureaucrats design them well—they succeed when communities take ownership,” he said.
India’s leadership structures have traditionally relied on hierarchy, making it difficult for participatory leadership to take hold. "While the private sector embraces Western models focused on individual traits,

grassroots leadership

thrives in

collective action

. We have to stop measuring leadership by how many people follow and start measuring it by how many people are empowered,” Balasubramaniam said.
As India positions itself as a global power, the conversation around leadership is shifting—focusing not just on authority, but on impact and inclusivity.