CEO Insights: A Conversation with Tanay Kediyal of Allstate India

In a recent interview for the Great Manager Awards' CEO Insights series, I had the privilege of speaking with Tanay Kediyal, Managing Director at Allstate India. Mr. Kediyal shared his perspectives on leadership, core values, and what it takes to be a great manager, offering a wealth of insights drawn from his extensive experience.

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Leadership Style: The Servant Leader: Tanay Kediyal describes his leadership style as that of a "servant leader", emphasizing an inverted pyramid approach. His primary role, as he sees it, is to support and empower those closest to the decision-making process. Trust is the cornerstone of his leadership philosophy. Tanay believes that fostering a collaborative and engaging environment is crucial, especially in today's fast-paced world where no single individual can possess all the answers.

Core Values: “Trust, Integrity, and Compassion”.? Trustworthiness is not just a key value for Tanay, but a defining characteristic. This value, deeply ingrained since his early career days, is complemented by integrity, consistency, and honesty. He also highlights the importance of courage and compassion. Courage, for Tanay, means understanding and following through on what is right, while compassion involves genuinely caring for team members, customers, and the community.

Where does Tanay draw inspiration: From various sources, including his father, who imparted lasting lessons on integrity and professionalism. He also admires Amitabh Bachchan for his resilience and ability to reinvent himself, and the literary work "Jonathan Livingston Seagull" by Richard Bach for its message of continuous self-improvement. Professionally, he values mentors who have provided him with candid feedback, helping him grow continuously.

For the younger generation entering the workforce: Tanay stresses the importance of finding and pursuing what they genuinely enjoy. He advises maintaining a balance between persistence in new roles and being open to learning and exploring new opportunities. Emphasizing learnability, he encourages young professionals to be adaptable and resilient in the face of rapid change.

Defining a Great Manager: Tanay differentiates between managing tasks and processes, and actually leading teams with vison and empathy into lasting growth and collective success. He believes that great managers invest in their team members, understand their aspirations, and foster an environment where the collective brilliance of the team drives success. It's not personal brilliance but the ability to harness the strengths of the team that defines a great manager.

Vision for Allstate India: Tanay envisions a unified global organization - "One Allstate". He focuses on the organization providing exceptional support to customers during their most challenging times, leveraging technology to enhance customer experience, and ensuring seamless and integrated operations across all geographies. This vision is anchored in the company's longstanding values of trust and support.

Describing Himself: Trustworthy. When asked to describe himself in one word, Tanay chose "trustworthy". This singular adjective encapsulates his commitment to integrity, courage, and compassion, forming the foundation of his leadership style.

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Tanay Kediyal's insights offer a profound look into the principles and values that drive effective leadership and management. His focus on trust, continuous learning, and team empowerment serves as an exemplary model for aspiring leaders and managers.