Episode Summary

In this episode, Nicola Hunt speaks with Vish Alluri, co-author of The Enlightened Manager, about an approach to management rooted in the teachings of the philosopher, Jiddu Krishnamurti. They discuss self-understanding and deep questioning as the foundation for effective management. Vish argues that true leadership requires personal clarity of mind and an awareness of life as a whole.

The conversation concludes with an exchange on the role of artificial intelligence in management, with Vish emphasizing that AI cannot read between the lines or replace human intelligence and that leaders must have clarity within themselves to guide others effectively.

Key Topics Discussed

• The art of questioning and why discovering your own questions is more important than the answers themselves.
• The life and philosophy of Jiddu Krishnamurti, including his rejection of organized belief systems
• Why understanding your own mind is a prerequisite for understanding and managing others
• Key management tools: The "tool of negation" and the "mirror of relationship"
• Focusing on the process ("eye on the ball") rather than being consumed by outcomes
• 'Coffee darshan' and the importance of a daily refreshment to pause for reflection and connection
• A critique of business schools for providing "symptomatic solutions"
• The role of spontaneity and why acting without expectation prevents disappointment
• The limitations of Artificial Intelligence, including the concern that our brains could decay if we don’t use them enough.

Featured Guest

Vish Alluri – Co-author with Harry Eyres of The Enlightened Mananager. As a tech entrepreneur in 1988 Vish founded IMISoft. In 1999 he went on to found communication platform IMImobile which was acquired by CISCO in 2021.

Vish is currently the Secretary of the Krishnamurti Foundation India where his role is to assist the foundation’s work to preserve and disseminate the teachings of J. Krishnamurti, responsibility of Schools in India for education of children, rural outreach work.

Resources Mentioned

• The Enlightened Manager co-authored by Vish Alluri (available on Amazon)
• A Meeting by the River by Christopher Isherwood
• The Future of Humanity in the Era of AI (booklet)
• "The Good, The Bad, Ugly and the Danger of AI" (article by Vish Alluri)