Igniting Leadership from Within: Pompayya H.M. on the GHRC Know Your Member Talk Show

In a compelling episode of the Know Your GHRC Member Talk Show, the Global HR Community (GHRC) features Pompayya H.M. author, leadership practitioner, and one of India’s Top 100 Great People Managers (GMI National HRD & The Economic Times, 2023). With more than two decades of experience across factory shopfloors, large-scale operations, P&L leadership, and culture transformation, Pompayya brings a rare integration of operational depth and inner leadership philosophy.

Pompayya’s leadership journey challenges conventional assumptions about authority and success. Rather than viewing leadership as a function of hierarchy, systems, or positional power, he emphasises that authentic leadership begins within through awareness, character, and personal transformation.

At the heart of the conversation is his forthcoming book, The Inner Engine, recognised among the Top 5 on Amazon US in Business Mentoring & Coaching, with its global release scheduled for 27 December 2025. The book introduces a powerful distinction: while many leaders manage processes and some manage people, the most impactful leaders ignite what Pompayya calls their Inner Engine the internal source of clarity, energy, and purposeful action.

During the episode, Pompayya shares the origin and philosophy behind this concept, offering insights into the unseen inner forces that shape leadership effectiveness. He reflects on common leadership blind spots that often limit growth, particularly in fast-paced organisational environments, and highlights the crucial role of HR in building character-driven organisations rather than merely capability-driven ones.

The conversation also offers practical guidance for aspiring and early-career leaders. Pompayya outlines simple but powerful first steps individuals can take to begin activating their own inner engine cultivating self-awareness, intentionality, and alignment between values and action.

This episode is especially relevant for HR professionals, people leaders, leadership students, and individuals who sense untapped potential within themselves. It invites viewers to move beyond external markers of leadership and explore the deeper foundations of influence and impact.

Through this dialogue, GHRC continues its mission of spotlighting purpose-driven leaders and bringing reflective leadership conversations to the professional community.

Watch the full episode to discover how leadership transformation truly begins from within.