ABOUT PRASAD KAIPA
I have been engaged in working with CEOs and senior executives in advisory and coaching capacity for past 15 years. My work evolved from research and teaching in the area of physics at the University of Utah, international marketing at Apple Computer and research and reflection in the areas how people think, learn and create. During my time as a research fellow at the Apple University, I had a chance to interact with many brilliant people like Nobel Laureates, accomplished athletes, writers, professors and spiritual teachers of 4 different religions. That process of exploring how human beings can think breakthrough thoughts and create tools that augment human intelligence ignited my own connection with my roots. As I grew up in India, I had the good fortune to study Sanskrit and get deep exposure to Hindu spiritual literature like Vedas and Upanishads.
My insights on what is important to ignite genius within:
I quit Apple in early 1990 because it was clear that innovation and breakthrough learning take place in "soft" domains like Leadership than in hard sciences (like Physics) or hard business skills (like managing resources). When I started working with companies doing executive development programs or design of leadership development, I realized that knowledge is easy to give or receive. Many schools do that quite well. If an executive needs a brush up of general management knowledge, he should go to one of the executive development courses in a reputable school for a few days/months.
On the other hand, skill building takes place on the job. Schools do not build skills but one does it in practicing what one learned in school in a real life setting. But both knowledge and skills are necessary for one to be successful and grow in their job. When they integrate their skills and knowledge with their own ‘feel’ of the job and ‘feel’ confident about themselves, they become competent workers and managers. Many companies focus on leadership competencies and do the gap analysis through 360 reviews and help people to develop required competencies to make them and organizations successful. Considering that many leadership development programs don’t give high return on the investment, I began to think about the missing factors in leadership development.
On reflection, I learned the value of capacity that one has. It is different from potential as we know in human potential. Capacity shows up in action and it is not a reservoir of potential to be tapped into. Capacity is unlocked when mindsets are changed or when people make discontinuous leaps — in other words when cognitive reframing takes place. This process is not dependent on the instructor or coach or facilitator but it is on the individual. Why? Because it is about the individual discovering ones own natural genius based on the environment, mirroring and the provocation provided by others. This is the source of passion, creativity and leadership. I got excited and hence started working on understanding this ‘igniting genius within’ concept. I brought my spiritual education, scientific knowledge and research and business awareness to together and serve me in helping others to ignite their genius. That is what I still do in working with executives.
How to engage with me:
Send me some questions that are bothering you in your work and life. I will try to answer them through a Q & A blog or personal responses. You can attend Practical Vedanta sessions if you are in the San Francisco Bay Area on Thursday evenings from 7-9. Send me an email to RSVP or find the directions to my office.
If you are interested in CEO or executive team coaching projects, you can contact me at:
408 871 0462 and pkaipa@kaipagroup.com