Leadership Journeys [229] - Akhil Shahani - "Your mind wants to be challenged"

This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.

I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other's stories - of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.

In this episode, Akhil Shahani—Managing Director of the Shahani Group—reveals how he transformed personal setbacks into a bold vision to revolutionize education across Asia.

From navigating the weight of a century-old family legacy to building an education-to-employment ecosystem, Akhil shares real talk on leadership, resilience, and reinventing outdated systems.

You’ll walk away with fresh insight on bridging the gap between theory and practice—and why empathy, adaptability, and critical thinking are the true markers of future-ready leaders.

If you're a leader tired of playing by broken rules, this conversation is your permission to reimagine what’s possible.

You can find Dr. Akhil Shahani at the below links

• https://www.linkedin.com/in/akhilshahani/
• https://shahanigroup.com/

In the interview, Dr. Akhil shares

• "Legacy can be a gift or a burden. The challenge is in choosing to build upon it rather than be confined by it."
• "I had an MBA from Kellogg, but still failed in business. That’s when I realized traditional education was missing something vital."
• "We need to move beyond textbooks and teach life skills like critical thinking, resilience, and adaptability."
• "We’re building Asia’s largest education-to-employment ecosystem—where students aren’t just educated, they’re employable."
• "Success isn’t just about academic scores. It’s about how well you communicate, adapt, and collaborate."
• "Being part of a legacy business means honoring the past while boldly reinventing the future."
• "You need both the visionary and the operator in a leadership team. One without the other is a recipe for chaos."
• "Think of life as a game—when you focus on the process instead of the outcome, stress becomes a teacher, not a threat."
• "Leadership isn’t about control. It’s about empathy, understanding your team’s dreams, and helping them get there."
• "We’re not just educating students. We’re equipping them to thrive in the real world—no matter where they start from."