USTM Hosts Transformative Leadership Workshop by Sridhar Aranala: “The Only Thing that Keeps You Safe is How Humane You Are

 

    

9th Mile, Khanapara, Ri Bhoi – Friday, November 14, 2025: The University of Science and Technology Meghalaya (USTM) reverberated with inspiration and clarity of thought today as Shri Sridhar Aranala, Vice President (Sales & Distribution), The Hindu Group, delivered an impactful session on leadership at a professional development workshop titled “Leadership Styles for Team Success.” The event, organised by the Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC), was held at the Prof. N.K. Chaudhury Auditorium.

The program was graced by HODs, professors, faculty members, administrative staff, Dr R.K. Sharma, Advisor, USTM who together extended a warm welcome to the distinguished speaker.

A leader known for his humility, clarity, and quietly compelling style, Sridhar Aranala is widely regarded as the driving force behind the circulation strength of The Hindu. This legacy newspaper has stood tall for 147 years.

His journey—marked by adaptability, discipline, and daily doses of humility- unfolded through anecdotes and insights that deeply resonated with the audience.

The session remained highly interactive from start to finish, with questions pouring in as participants engaged with Shri Aranala’s grounded yet powerful perspectives on leadership.

At the core of his message was a compelling philosophy:
“A good leader only needs to be a good human.”
He urged attendees to rethink leadership not as a designation but as a lived practice, reminding them that “A leader is born, not designated.”

He further remarked, “If we learn to separate the ‘who’ from the ‘what,’ we solve most of life’s problems,” a statement that struck a chord with many in the audience.

In his closing remarks, Dr Debasish Saha, Director (Operations & IQAC), reiterated the transformative takeaways from the session and thanked Shri Aranala for imparting wisdom that aligns with USTM’s commitment to nurturing leadership excellence.

The University of Science and Technology Meghalaya, the first State Private University dedicated to science and technology in North East India, received an ‘A’ grade from the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) in its first assessment cycle in 2021. Recognised as the Best Private University in Northeast India, USTM continues to excel on the national stage, being the only private university from the North East to be featured in the NIRF Rankings for four consecutive years, including 2025.