Celebrating Prakash Iyer: Leadership, reinvention and impact

As Prakash Iyer marks his birthday today, his journey continues to stand out as one of quiet reinvention and enduring relevance. A former corporate CEO who stepped away from the boardroom at the height of his career, Iyer has spent the past several years shaping conversations around leadership through coaching, writing and public speaking.

Iyer began his professional journey with Hindustan Unilever after graduating from IIM Ahmedabad, building a strong foundation in marketing, people management and organisational culture. Over the next three decades, he held senior leadership roles across companies including PepsiCo, Infomedia India and Kimberly-Clark Lever, where he served as Managing Director in his final corporate assignment. Those years gave him firsthand insight into the pressures and possibilities of leadership at scale.

In the years since, Iyer has carved out a distinctive second career as an independent leadership coach and advisor, working closely with CEOs, leadership teams and young professionals across industries. Through his firm Leadership Works, he has focused on practical leadership development, often emphasising clarity, accountability and teamwork over theory or jargon.

Alongside his coaching work, Iyer has emerged as one of India’s most engaging leadership voices through his writing and speaking. He is the author of several widely read books, including The Habit of Winning and The Secret of Leadership, and is known for his ability to simplify complex management ideas through stories drawn from corporate life, sport and everyday experience.

Colleagues often describe him as a communicator who combines strategic insight with accessibility, someone who bridges the gap between boardroom thinking and real-world application. His emphasis on culture, execution and mindset continues to resonate with professionals navigating increasingly complex workplaces.

As he marks another milestone, Iyer’s journey reflects a broader shift in corporate India itself, from traditional hierarchies toward more collaborative, purpose-driven models of leadership.