![Leadership Journeys [254] - Dr. Santosh Honnagunti - "Mentors, risk-taking, and curiosity turned me from an engineer into a leader."](https://img.transistorcdn.com/iV4JjZphOOUXUsieQm6v_U9NS0vEAhkDd_HaCRqmkXk/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wZDA2/ZTBiZDViNjA0NDk0/ZWVlNDkzNjM4NDI1/MTlmNi5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [254] - Dr. Santosh Honnagunti - \"Mentors, risk-taking, and curiosity turned me from an engineer into a leader.\"")
Leadership Journeys [254] - Dr. Santosh Honnagunti - "Mentors, risk-taking, and curiosity turned me from an engineer into a leader."
Description
This is the Leadership Journey series on the Choosing Leadership Podcast.
I believe we all have a lot to learn from each other's stories - of where we started, where we are now, and our successes and struggles on the way. With this series of interviews, my attempt is to give leaders an opportunity to share their stories and for all of us to learn from their generous sharing. If you know a leader whom you would like to see celebrated on the show, please send me a message on LinkedIn with their name.
In this episode, Dr. Santosh Honnagunti pulls back the curtain on what it really takes to jump from engineer to CEO without losing your curiosity or your courage.
He shares how mentors, disciplined habits, and a willingness to take risks shaped every major pivot in his career—and how those same ingredients can accelerate yours.
You’ll hear the surprising moments that opened doors, the leadership philosophies that keep his teams empowered, and the mindset that allows him to thrive across industries and continents.
Dr. Santosh also reveals how sports and personal discipline fuel his energy and focus as a leader.
If you're navigating growth, reinvention, or the pressure to “figure it out,” this conversation will give you the clarity and confidence to take your next bold step.
You can find Dr. Santosh Honnagunti at the links below
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/santoshhonagunti/
- santosh.kumar@tayana.in
In the interview, Dr. Santosh shares
- “Mentors don’t just teach you—they redirect your whole trajectory.”
- “My biggest career leaps came from stepping into roles I wasn’t fully ready for.”
- “When you start solving real customer problems, you stop being an engineer and start becoming a leader.”
- “Risk isn’t something to fear; it’s the price you pay for growth.”
- “A disciplined upbringing taught me that consistency beats talent every single time.”
- “Leadership is simple: empower people, trust them, and get out of their way.”
- “Succession planning isn’t about replacing yourself—it’s about multiplying leaders.”
- “Every new geography, every new role expanded not just my career, but my worldview.”
- “Sports keep me grounded. If I don’t push my body, my mind gets lazy.”
- “Curiosity has been my north star; it’s the one trait that has carried me from engineer to CEO.”
![Leadership Journeys [261] - Jeff Perkins - "Family and fitness keep me grounded - without them, leadership gets heavy fast."](https://img.transistorcdn.com/RWvQw6bDx1vCYz4AIMCNWDnzN0OUn0MFv559TisGG_I/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS82YTY4/YWIyNmMwZjY4ZTk3/NmU0MjY1ZmQwMTJl/OWNkOC5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [261] - Jeff Perkins - \"Family and fitness keep me grounded - without them, leadership gets heavy fast.\"")
![Leadership Journeys [260] - Suchit Bachalli - "Trust is the ultimate currency—and a true leader spends it in service of their team."](https://img.transistorcdn.com/m7aF963L2WsYp-K8uXFolDBqjv8LOtt4wubgFela4VI/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS84YTA2/ZjM0ZmNhOGU1Y2Ex/ZDAxYTJmMTRlYzlk/ZWUzYi5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [260] - Suchit Bachalli - \"Trust is the ultimate currency—and a true leader spends it in service of their team.\"")
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![Leadership Journeys [257] - Sorabh Gupta - "I need to step back for the company to grow."](https://img.transistorcdn.com/RflOacj46qDOhrNpZkBNF1rOEQu6YLaso_0KZATmfuE/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS84YmZl/ZGEwYmIxN2FjYzQ5/NDFiODU0ZTBmMTQ5/MDhmMy5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [257] - Sorabh Gupta - \"I need to step back for the company to grow.\"")
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![Leadership Journeys [255] - Bill Benjamin - "Managing emotions in tough moments defines your culture."](https://img.transistorcdn.com/ACcQbFreF084483Yw1UI__mo_3NRcAlUnKzjeSPFo3s/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS80OGY3/NjAxMGY1YmFkNDM1/ZjJmZTNlN2JlMDRj/ZGY4My5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [255] - Bill Benjamin - \"Managing emotions in tough moments defines your culture.\"")
![Leadership Journeys [253] - Benoit Honnart - "In business, trust opens more doors than opportunity."](https://img.transistorcdn.com/dacr0v7nn3hQhmBM-6hyJ2pJrNofnFICEHYq4-ZpO88/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8yYzU2/ODQxOGE2NjNjOTA5/YjAwY2JjOWI5YzM4/NTcxYy5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [253] - Benoit Honnart - \"In business, trust opens more doors than opportunity.\"")
![Leadership Journeys [252] - Alay Jhaveri - " Leadership is letting people be who they are."](https://img.transistorcdn.com/NhsRRAag5UN-dhhuTg-0ei7MSPs5TzNjwdaJOn8AUGw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iOGVk/ZThhYTgzYWZmYmZi/OWY3MzY1OTU0NzU2/MWUzOC5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [252] - Alay Jhaveri - \" Leadership is letting people be who they are.\"")
![Leadership Journeys [251] - Griff Parry - " I am more motivated by the journey rather than the destination. "](https://img.transistorcdn.com/6xfLvfKh3LA1zT6m0P2q6kgQhgtBeQxs-Wzz90Cm7s8/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS85NjE0/MmY1ODAzMTRmNTA5/MGM1ODdiMWRmZGFm/OGRkMy5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [251] - Griff Parry - \" I am more motivated by the journey rather than the destination. \"")
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![Leadership Journeys [249] - Jason Hayes - " If I were to write a book, it would be called 'Thriving on Chaos'. "](https://img.transistorcdn.com/ccCnUhiNafWSCwIBuOZcA1iW2A6nq2OKAad-8Wh5OFw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8zNDM2/OGFhM2JhZDhhNzMw/OGQ4NDY1YjEyOTUw/NTNiNS5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [249] - Jason Hayes - \" If I were to write a book, it would be called 'Thriving on Chaos'. \"")
![Leadership Journeys [248] - Ryan Howsam -"With structure and the right direction, success becomes inevitable."](https://img.transistorcdn.com/4A1LKcjdmVjHZMgabBRhTitDv0pXsawW37k7qdr1Zvw/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8wOWM4/MzEyYzI1ZTQ0ZWI2/ZjMyM2JmZjIxM2Q3/MzkwNy5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [248] - Ryan Howsam -\"With structure and the right direction, success becomes inevitable.\"")
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![Leadership Journeys [244] - Conor McGowan Smyth - "I have a deep hunger to explore—both the world and my spiritual side."](https://img.transistorcdn.com/8xAmTkTdD9eWE60sQXznHk4WTjOee9834JKVT0en90g/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:1400/h:1400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS8xZGM1/M2Y1OWQ1MTNjMThm/NmVlZDFlOTcxYzQ0/ODMxMC5wbmc.jpg "Leadership Journeys [244] - Conor McGowan Smyth - \"I have a deep hunger to explore—both the world and my spiritual side.\"")
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