leaderspeak
From All-Round Athlete To Energy Pioneer
Poonam Advani
A journey shaped by curiosity, resilience and people, Ashish Khanna, CEO of Adani Green Energy, reflects on the experiences that took him from a Delhi playground to the helm of a renewable energy giant.
Ashish Khanna's path through the energy sector has been anything but linear — spanning procurement, large infrastructure projects, conventional power, renewables and business turnarounds. Today, as CEO of Adani Green Energy, he leads one of India's largest renewable platforms. Yet behind the CEO is a Delhi boy who once dreamed of becoming a bureaucrat, played nearly every sport going, and learnt his most enduring lessons from his parents, his teams and life's unexpected turns.
In this conversation, he reflects on the experiences that shaped him, his evolving view of leadership, the people who've influenced his journey, and what gives him pride about the road ahead.
What was that sporty, mischievous boy like growing up?
Mischievous and full of energy — that was me. My biggest concern each day was where to play and what to play. I tried almost every sport: cricket, football, basketball, hockey, badminton, table tennis and lawn tennis. Badminton remained my favourite. My father was a Central Government bureaucrat, so we grew up in a disciplined household, though our parents also gave us the freedom to explore and enjoy ourselves.
You topped Class 12 — what was the secret?
I was good at studies but never studied excessively till high school. Curiosity and the ability to learn helped more than rote effort. My parents taught us to work hard, and sports taught me to bounce back — lessons that has outlasted anything I learnt from a textbook.
You once wanted to be a bureaucrat, how did that turn into leading a Tata Power Solar turnaround?
I sat the civil services examination but didn't clear it after completing mechanical engineering before starting my career in the public sector, later I also did Masters in Management & Systems. Years later, addressing an IAS batch, I shared my failure with them too. It felt like life coming full circle — proof that what looks like disappointing result at the time is often simply life redirecting you.
By my mid-40s I knew I wanted to be a CEO, having spent years across contracts, procurement and projects. The chance came with Tata Power Solar, which was then loss-making. With a supportive team, we built new business model and turned it from a manufacturing company to the biggest EPC Company. In fact it was changing the DNA of an organisation culture. The biggest lesson: business performance and employee engagement always move in step. People remain a company's greatest asset and with motivation can do wonders.
Your career has meant moving cities repeatedly — what did your family give up along the way?
The job has taken us from Delhi to Mumbai in 2007, back to Delhi, then Mumbai and now to Ahmedabad. My daughter had to change schools and leave friends behind each time. Work-life balance isn't always achievable, however hard you try. My wife, Prabha, and daughter, Saiesha, have made real sacrifices along this journey, and I'm deeply grateful for their support.
Ashish Khanna with his wife Prabha.
Has your definition of leadership changed — and what do you look for in young talent now?
I once thought leadership was mainly about the business; I now see the team as its biggest contributor. Business isn't a hundred-metre race but a marathon, built on long-term thinking and values. When backing a young person, attitude matters far more than knowledge or experience — a positive, hardworking mindset already puts someone on the right path. Young minds bring new ideas, embrace and appreciate the same.
What stands out about Sagar Adani, and what makes you proudest at Khavda?
Sagar stands out for his humility and empathy — he listens calmly & closely and thereafter gives his suggestions. As for Khavda, credit goes to our Chairman's vision, to Sagar, and to Vneet Bhai for driving it to this scale. What makes me proudest, though, is our team itself — the way our people work, and the facilities and care we've built for the workforce at Khavda.
Ashish Khanna with Sagar Adani.
Three words for the child you were?
Mischievous. Energetic. Curious.
A book you return to?
Man’s Search for Meaning and Tuesdays with Morrie.
Your perfect day off?
Reading a book on the beach.
Something people don't expect about you?
I give people a lot of space and encourage them to think for themselves.
If not an engineer?
A pilot.
Favourite way to unwind?
Badminton, travelling and discovering good roadside food.
The title of your next chapter?
Giving Back More Than I've Received.
quick talk