Leading in Complexity

Have you ever felt like the rules of the game are changing faster than you can adapt? That no matter how much expertise or experience you bring to the table, the challenges you face seem messier, less predictable, and harder to solve?

I see this all around us today. The corporate world, especially in India, is navigating uncharted waters. Disruptive technologies, shifting markets, and global uncertainties are rewriting the playbook for leadership. The traditional “command-and-control” style simply isn’t enough anymore.

Complexity is the new normal. Unlike complicated problems (which can be solved with expertise and systems), complex challenges don’t have clear answers. They evolve constantly and demand leaders who can innovate, adapt, and engage with ambiguity.

When I came across the work of Cultivating Leadership, I realised there is a whole art and science to leading in complexity, and I am so excited to now bring this to India through our JV. The team at Cultivating Leadership, led by Co-Founder and CEO Jennifer Garvey Berger, has spent decades studying and teaching how to lead in complexity.

At Cultivating Leadership, we help leaders make sense of uncertainty and turn challenges into opportunities. This work has transformed organisations like Google, Novartis, and Microsoft, enabling their leaders to not only navigate complexity but thrive in it.

Here’s the truth: thriving in complexity isn’t just about strategies and tools—it’s about developing the mindset to embrace change, lead with curiosity, and find clarity amidst chaos.

About Shweta Anand Arora

Shweta Anand Arora is the founder of The Core Questin. She is a Leadership and Life Coach, who works with leaders across the corporate, social enterprise and non-profit space. Shweta holds an M.Ed. from Harvard University, an MBA from IIM Ahmedabad and is a graduate of Coach for Life, USA.