Strivers: Balancing Success and Meaning

Strivers is a deeply reflective exploration of success, purpose and meaningful living among some of the most accomplished professionals and entrepreneurs. Drawing on extensive life-history interviews with twenty-eight graduates from premier institutions such as the Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, Indian Institute of Management Bangalore, Indian Institute of Management Calcutta, Indian School of Business, INSEAD and Harvard University, the book examines how high achievers navigate ambition, adversity, identity, family, leadership and inner purpose across different phases of life.

The book traces the evolving journeys of individuals who move beyond conventional markers of achievement―money, titles, prestige and power―to seek alignment, contribution and meaning. Through intimate narratives, the book offers a rare glimpse into how some of the most successful and influential minds define and continually redefine success. At its core, Strivers is an exploration of not just how people achieve grand success but also how they strive to live meaningfully.

Upasna A. Agarwal is a professor and heads Organization Behavior and Human Resource Management and Diversity Equity and Inclusion cell of IIM Mumbai. An MBA and Master's Labor Law from Symbiosis, Pune, she is a PhD from Indian Institute of Technology¸ Mumbai. Upasna launched her academic career at S.P Jain Institute of Management and Research in 2010¸ and has seven years of corporate experience prior to that.

For the past four years, 2019-24, Upasna has been identified as top 2 per cent of scientists' by the Stanford University, for her research. Upasna has been awarded the prestigious 2024-26 Project Management International (PMI) Grant of $ 50,000, for conducting research on diversity issues in project-based organizations. Her recent book titled “Managing People in Projects for High Performance: Behavioral Approach to Productive Project Teams” Springer Publication is being well received. Upasna designs and conducts customized programs in diversity, non-violent communication, Leadership, Interpersonal relationships, Negotiations and Stress Management, among others, for private and government organizations.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/upasna-a-agarwal-442a7632/

Arvind N. Agrawal brings over five decades of corporate leadership to his work as an executive coach, leadership consultant, and author. As the Managing Partner of Lead Associates, he draws upon a distinguished career that includes serving as Management Board Member and President of HR at RPG Group, and as Chief Executive Officer at Escorts Construction Equipment and Escorts JCB (now JCB India). His expertise also encompasses strategic roles, including Head of Corporate Strategy and Marketing, and Head of Human Resource & Total Quality at Modi Xerox (now Xerox India).

He served as the National President of the National HRD Network during the year 2000-2002 and honoured with Life Time Achievement from Business World in 2021 and National HRD Network in 2023 . He is PhD from IIT Bombay, and a postgraduate in Business Administration from IIM Ahmedabad. He is a Master Certified Coach (MCC) accredited by the International Coach Federation (ICF). He co-authored Leaders in the Making–Crucibles of Change-Makers in HR (published by Penguin Random House in 2022).

Usha Sunderarajan is a Human Resources Management and Organisation Development consultant. An alumna of Indian Institute of Management Ahmedabad, she began her career in 1973 with Hawkins Cookers Limited and later joined Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Limited. She then pursued research at the National Institute of Bank Management. In 1984 she earned a PhD in Organisational Behaviour from Indian Institute of Technology Delhi.
Usha has since been consulting in Human Resources Development and Organizational Development. She was associated with SHL, for almost a decade conducting Assessment and Development Centres for diverse and large organizations. Since 2014 she has been serving on the Board of Desai Brothers Limited and also advising the company on Human Resources Development and Organizational Development.
In 2023 she joined Bihar-based Akhand Jyoti Eye Hospital as mentor. This non-profit NGO is dedicated to eliminating curable blindness in rural communities and empowering women by training them as optometrists.