Leading With Compassion: An Interview with Dadabhai Travel’s Adnan Gilitwala

Sumi Thomas October 17, 2023

2 minutes read

As Director of Dadabhai Travel, Adnan Gilitwala believes that making tough calls, delivering the best travel solutions, and being open to a world of ideas are hallmarks of successful leadership.

What was the best lesson in leadership you’ve learned?

The best lesson in leadership I’ve learned is to never stop learning and growing. Opportunities will naturally come to those who continue to better themselves and the other members of their organisation.

What do you most love about working in your industry and what do you most dislike about it?

What I love the most about working in our industry is the continuously evolving nature of it. I frequently get to meet people from all over the world working in the sector or in complementary industries with new ideas, products, and views that help us enhance what we offer and how we offer it. I also love being able to provide people with the best possible solutions for their travel requirements as that helps me learn more about people and the industry.

What I dislike about the industry is the immense pressure that comes from the day-to-day trials and tribulations we go through while trying to make everything work smoothly. Most people have no idea what occurs behind the scenes.

What according to you are the key qualities or skills that every leader should possess in order to thrive?

In my opinion, leaders need to be very emotionally balanced. They need to be firm but compassionate, and ambitious but also cautious. Good leaders need to inspire people to display the same qualities as themselves and empower them to reach their full potential. In order to thrive, a good leader needs to be able to delegate responsibility effectively and trust his decisions, especially when it comes to the people they choose to associate with and bring into their organisation.

Can you describe a difficult business decision you had to make and how did you handle it?

The toughest business decision I had to make was to suspend or exit certain projects during the COVID-19 pandemic. While these projects had huge potential for growth and returns, they were too resource-intensive. At the time, every resource was precious as we had no idea what was going to happen. It is always a tough call to take but, a good leader is someone who is able to make tough decisions and hope that one day we will be able to revisit those ideas and projects when the time is right.

Is there a particular saying or motto that guides you?

The pessimist sees difficulty in every opportunity. The optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.” — Winston Churchill