THEBUSINESSBYTES BUREAU

ROURKELA, OCTOBER 17, 2026

“True leaders must go beyond data and information to develop Prajna or comprehension, enabling them to connect the dots, drive innovation and formulate winning strategies instead of resorting to short-term fixes,” said Dr. Sanak Mishra, former Managing Director of Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), at a special leadership session here on Friday.

Addressing around 500 employees of Steel Authority of India Ltd’s (SAIL) Rourkela Steel Plant (RSP), Mishra emphasised that effective leadership is rooted in values, culture, heritage and tradition, while being shaped by the specific realities of the environment in which a leader operates.

The programme, titled ‘Lessons in Leadership: In Conversation with Dr. Sanak Mishra’, was held at Gopabandhu Auditorium of RSP, with Director In-Charge Alok Verma attending as the chief guest and former Director In-Charge Atanu Bhowmick as the guest of honour.

Taking the participants through the historic turnaround of Rourkela Steel Plant in the early 2000s, Mishra offered insights into the principles that underpin successful leadership, highlighting the role of mindset, behaviour and action in positively influencing people and organisations.

He stressed that leadership cannot be reduced to generic formulas, as it must be contextual and responsive to the challenges and opportunities specific to an organisation. A strong foundation of personal values, combined with the ability to understand complex situations and translate insights into strategy, is essential for achieving sustainable results, he said.

The session also featured an interactive discussion in which young employees raised questions on ambition, happiness, motivation, personal responsibility, talent retention and the role of women in leadership. Mishra responded to the queries by offering a broad perspective on professional growth, organisational responsibility and the human dimensions of leadership.

Complementing Mishra’s strategic and philosophical insights, Bhowmick drew on his 36 years of shop-floor experience to underline the importance of competence, courage, humility and compassion in leadership.

Employees must develop the ability to solve difficult problems, have the courage to lead change, remain humble enough to keep learning and demonstrate compassion to take people along, he said.

 “It is your responsibility to ensure that Rourkela Steel Plant remains the jewel in the crown of SAIL,” Bhowmick added.

Expressing gratitude to Mishra for his inspiring address, Verma said employees and their families remained deeply indebted to the former managing director for steering the plant away from a critical phase and transforming it into a profitable and prosperous unit.

 “Today, we are enjoying the fruits of the historic efforts made by Dr. Mishra to rescue Rourkela Steel Plant from a phase where it was almost written off, turning it into an enterprise that simply cannot be ignored,” Verma said.

The Director In-Charge urged employees to embrace courage as the bedrock of true leadership and stressed the continued relevance of these lessons as RSP pursues its ongoing journey of growth and transformation.

The programme was coordinated by Joydev Majumdar, Assistant Manager (Public Relations).