Leadership is often seen as an inherent quality, but this isn’t always the case. For some, it is a collective process consisting of events that led them toward their leadership pursuits—enabling them to discover their true leadership potential.
The story of Abhishek Mago, CMO of Travelwings.com, follows a similar theme. When Abhishek began his professional journey, more than leadership aspirations, he merely wanted to excel at the job at hand. However, consistently striving to deliver the best results eventually propelled him to great leadership heights—making him one of the most influential leaders to watch in 2024.
Journey of Continuous Learning
At his first job, Abhishek Mago was determined to prove his worth to his organization. Reminiscing on those days, Abhishek says that he was always among the best performers in his team, often outgrowing his profile earlier than his peers. This helped him work on metrics and KPIs that could potentially improve the team and organizational dynamics—propelling him fast in his career.
“The motivation remains the same with now driving and inspiring a team to deliver the goods and always strive for better performances. I get excited to see the same vibe in peers and teams and it adds to my motivation levels.”
Two elements have consistently guided Abhishek’s leadership journey—continuous learning and adaptability. In the always-evolving business landscape, the ability to learn, unlearn, and relearn is crucial for sustained success. This cycle of ongoing learning enhances personal growth and equips one to lead even during challenging times.
Inclusive Leadership Philosophy
Abhishek Mago assumed leadership roles as a group and team lead early on in his career. However, it became evident to him that while computers may listen, people don’t always follow suit. This shifted his perspective and he started approaching managing the team as a project—ensuring a continuous trajectory of improvement and growth.
Getting promoted to the project manager role was a pivotal moment in Abhishek’s career. It required him to manage a team of average performers in what he refers to as a “sluggish project.” Opting for a ground-up approach, he restructured the team based on individual skills and key performance indicators. It enabled him to address strategic outbursts, simultaneously making it easy for team managers to foster a thriving team environment.
Rising Through Setbacks
Leading organizational change is a complex endeavor. Resistance to change is a common hurdle. Employees may fear job security, new responsibilities, or altered work processes. To address these concerns, effective leaders must opt for open communication, empathy, and clear explanations of the change’s benefits.
Balancing the pace of change is crucial. If the implementation is too quick, it can overwhelm teams. On the other hand, an overly slow progress can lead to stagnation. Leaders must find the optimal tempo, considering organizational capacity and the urgency of the change. Successful change management hinges on transparent communication, adaptable leadership, and a shared vision of the desired future.
What Separates Good Leaders from the Great?
Great leaders are architects of consistency. By meticulously planning and measuring their actions, they build trust and foster a culture of accountability. This unwavering approach ensures predictability and reliability, essential for inspiring confidence and driving results.
Effective leaders understand that consistency isn’t just about actions–it’s about aligning words with deeds.
A culture where everyone feels valued and respected drives employee engagement, loyalty, and productivity. This, in turn, enhances the company’s reputation, attracts top talent, and ultimately contributes to its long-term success.
Achieving Sustainable Growth
Creativity and innovation are essential for sustainable growth–driving continuous improvement, adaptability, and long-term competitiveness. As a leader, Abhishek Mago prioritizes cultivating an environment where new ideas are encouraged and valued.
How does he do it? He ensures his team has the freedom to experiment and take calculated risks without the fear of failure. Recognizing that diverse perspectives often lead to breakthrough ideas, Abhishek promotes open communication and collaboration across the organization. To empower his team further, he provides resources and invests in their professional development—enabling them to explore new technologies and methods.
“I believe that innovation is not just about big, disruptive changes but also about continuous, incremental improvements.”
A Significant Milestone
Leading a high-performing department in a top-tier company, Abhishek Mago was crucial in driving revenue and innovation. Together with his team, Abhishek led an engineering project that automated processes to ensure business continuity while constantly seeking new growth opportunities.
Then came the breakthrough. His team presented three revolutionary ideas to potentially boost the revenue by 16% in a single quarter. The team’s innovation was a testament to the high-performance culture it had fostered. It was clear that while Abhishek had steered the ship, it was the team’s collective brilliance that propelled them to new heights.
Role of Mentorship
“Beyond knowledge and experience, a mentor offers a sounding board for ideas and a mirror that reflects one’s strengths and potential areas for growth.”
Abhishek emphasizes that he’s been fortunate to have had numerous mentors who shaped his leadership journey. These individuals taught him the importance of consistency, resilience, and strategic thinking. More importantly, they taught him the importance of leading with integrity and empathy.
Crucially, these mentors helped Abhishek understand the nuanced nature of leadership—from decision-making in high-pressure situations to building and sustaining strong team dynamics.
As an industry leader, Abhishek now prioritizes guiding others, he sees it as a responsibility to pass on the wisdom and insights he has gained to help develop the next generation of leaders. He ensures that these future leaders are well-equipped to drive the company forward while maintaining the standard of excellence.
Handling High-stakes Situations
In high-stakes and complex situations, Abhishek Mago balances thorough analysis, consultation, and decisiveness. First, he gathers as much relevant information as possible, understanding that a well-informed decision is critical in these scenarios.
To ensure he has a comprehensive view, he prioritizes a constant flow of communication to the top management, actively seeking inputs and insights. It allows him to incorporate rational changes and diverse perspectives—vital factors that assess all potential impacts and identify the best course of action.
Abhishek strives for clarity in identifying core issues and considering the potential outcomes of each option. He is mindful of long-term implications and balances risks and benefits against organizational objectives and core values.
A Legacy of Excellence
Abhishek’s leadership is driven by a vision of industry excellence and a commitment to fostering a collaborative, inclusive work environment. He aims to drive sustainable growth and innovation, differentiating the organization from competitors. Beyond financial success, Abhishek aims to create a lasting impact defined by strong relationships, ground-breaking innovations, and positive societal change.
He aspires to be a leader known for consistency, integrity, and long-term vision. Abhishek Mago envisions an organization that is resilient, forward-thinking, and deeply committed to its community.
“My goal is to inspire a leadership style characterized by empathy, innovation, and a strong sense of responsibility.”
