Building Cross-Functional Awareness
As a high-level engineer, Mahesh Murthy is accustomed to working with complex data. But to excel as a leader, he knew he needed to further develop his managerial and people skills. After evaluating his options, Mahesh applied to our General Management Program (GMP), where he developed a cross-functional management perspective and gained the frameworks he needed to become a better leader.
How did you get started in engineering?
I was born into a family of engineers and scientists, so science and its applications fascinated me from an early age. I trained as a chemical engineer and later went on to earn my master's in environmental engineering. From there, working in energy, petrochemicals, and hazardous industries was a natural choice.
What led you to apply to GMP?
Advancing into management requires a solid understanding of both people and processes. After being in various senior engineering and management roles, I felt I needed to re-evaluate and enhance my managerial skillset in a more structured environment. GMP was appealing because it offered me the flexibility I needed to manage my career and fast-paced life while furthering my education.
How did you prepare to be away from work during the program?
The preparation was twofold, as I was working with both internal and external stakeholders. Internally, the project workflows were diverted and lead roles were gradually handed over to my other colleagues. Externally, a transition communication was shared with clients that explained the new point of contact going forward. Our plan worked very well and softened the impact of my absence.
What strategies from GMP have you implemented in your organization?
During GMP, I learned how to leverage my unique capabilities and strengths. The case studies were particularly useful in helping me acquire techniques for solving real challenges in my organization. As a leader, I feel more equipped to understand people and their impact. I now view challenges from multiple angles and have a greater understanding of complex organizational dynamics.
Since completing the program, I've looked at our organizational capabilities and built a resilient structure based on the Layer of Protection Analysis technique, which involves identifying operationally critical roles to ensure seamless business continuity.
We've identified areas of potential risks and enhanced strategic implementation plans to help the organization perform better, should a crisis occur – one of the lessons I took away from the Toyota and Nissan case studies.
How did GMP transform you—personally and professionally?
GMP has transformed my life and my way of thinking for the better. I am much more intentional about making contributions that improve society. I've already committed to sharing my knowledge through professional organizations, where I'm training and coaching young engineers on their career goals. This attitude has helped me to achieve, implement, and manage changes across my organization and thus complex new procedures have been implemented.