In this episode of SparX, Mukesh Bansal sits down with Roopa Kudva, former head of CRISIL and Omidyar Network India, to discuss her new book Leadership Beyond the Playbook and her powerful reflections on leadership.

Roopa shares why leadership is not about following fixed frameworks but about writing your own playbook, shaped by values, lived experiences, and conscious choices. They explore:

• The toughest transition from middle to top management and why so few make it

• How leaders can build breadth of experience and step out of silos

• Why authenticity and developing your unique leadership identity matter more than copying styles

• The barriers that hold women back from leadership roles and what it will take for India to change that

• Why mental health is a critical leadership issue and how leaders can normalize conversations around it

• The role of reflection, sponsors, and executive coaches in accelerating leadership growth

Roopa also shares stories from her own journey, from pioneering credit ratings in India, to asking for the Chief Ratings Officer role at CRISIL, to driving impact investing at scale, and why she believes leadership is both deeply personal and a national imperative.

If you are curious about how leaders are made, the challenges of growing into bigger roles, and what it takes to build an authentic leadership path in today’s world, this episode is a must watch.