Battlefield To Boardroom

Joanne Lockwood speaks with former army officer and leadership coach Taran Kumar about his journey from hospitality into the military, and later into the corporate world. Taran describes what drew him into service, the selection process, and the leadership lessons he learned by leading troops in extreme environments.

He recounts a high-altitude conflict in which he was seriously wounded, the realities of survival and decision-making under pressure, and the recovery process that followed. The experience reshaped his outlook, deepening his empathy and reinforcing the value of trust, morale, and shared purpose.

Bringing those lessons into the boardroom, Taran contrasts military cohesion with corporate environments where distrust, competition, and poor cross-department communication can undermine performance. He argues for more inclusive structures that value so-called non-revenue roles, involve people across levels in planning, and create space to challenge plans before execution. Through practical analogies—from football, chess, and security during the pandemic—he offers a clear case for building teams where everyone is recognised as essential to long-term success.