Middle Manager Mastery

Shruti Rustagi
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Middle Manager Mastery helps transform Middle Managers into High Impact Leaders. In each episode, Shruti Rustagi sits down with senior leaders, founders, and experts to unpack the tools to move the managers from Execution to Influence and Impact. Real conversations. Honest insights. No fluff. Tools & Techniques on how to: → Hone Executive Communication → Build Executive Presence → Lead through change and disruption → Manage Up , down and sideways → Supercharge Productivity → Address Imposter Syndrome → Deal with a Difficult boss, toxic workplace → Strengthen Emotional Intelligence

  1. 2d ago

    How to Influence Without Authority | Soumak Nasker on Building Trust, Credibility & Leadership

    What if you could get people to listen, collaborate and take action, even when you have no formal authority over them? In this episode of Middle Manager Mastery, Shruti Rustagi speaks with Soumak Nasker, Country Lead at Publicis Health India, about one of the most valuable and often overlooked leadership skills: influencing without authority. Drawing from nearly two decades of experience across healthcare, CPG, advertising and technology, Soumak shares practical lessons on building trust, creating alignment and getting people to move toward a shared objective without relying on hierarchy or designation. The conversation explores why influence starts long before you get a leadership title, and why the first few years of your career are the perfect time to start building this skill. About Soumak: Soumak Nasker is the Country Lead for Publicis Health India, with nearly two decades of experience across healthcare, CPG advertising and technology. He has worked with global pharma, healthcare and consumer brands across India and Southeast Asia, specialising in leadership, cross-functional collaboration and influencing without authority. Timestamps: 01:10 - Meet Shaumak Naskar01:51 - Why Authority Alone Doesn't Create Influence03:00 - A Leadership Lesson From Singapore05:22 - Put the Organisation at the Centre08:28 - Building Your Social Currency09:30 - Learning to See Problems Through Their Lens14:07 - When Influence Goes Wrong16:33 - From Mandate to Genuine Ownership18:00 - Stop Making It About You20:00 - Influencing Senior Leaders Without Authority22:04 - Bringing Alignment Into the Room23:26 - The Power of Pre-Binding24:38 - Why You Should Build This Skill Early25:00 - Practice Is What Turns Influence Into a Leadership Muscle If you're a middle manager navigating cross-functional teams, managing stakeholders or trying to make things happen without having formal authority, this episode offers practical ideas you can start applying immediately.

  2. Aug 10

    What Great Middle Managers Do Differently | Anil Srinivas

    What does it take to become a better middle manager, not just someone who gets the work done, but someone who builds capable teams, manages priorities, and creates strong relationships across an organization? In this episode of Middle Manager Mastery, I speak with Anil Chilla, a corporate leader with 25 years of experience across digital businesses, transformations, and multi-market leadership. We discuss the realities of middle management through practical examples from Anil's career, covering delegation, coaching, prioritization, burnout, managing upwards, disagreement, and stakeholder relationships. About Anil: Anil Chilla is a bestselling author, leadership educator, and former senior executive at L’Oréal, Levi’s, and Dell with 25+ years of leadership experience across Asia. He combines practical business experience with insights from the Ramayana and Indian Knowledge Systems.Timestamps: 01:14 - Why delegation feels terrifying02:23 - When too much delegation goes wrong05:07 - When should a manager step in?07:12 - Relationships vs. deliverables09:04 - Three ways to get a project back on track13:08 - Delegating when your team is already overloaded13:35 - The “ball should never be in your court” principle15:44 - Preventing burnout through prioritization17:59 - The 70/30 rule for managing priorities19:19 - Coaching instead of firefighting23:02 - Why one-on-ones should start with the person24:51 - Managing agencies and external partners26:01 - How to disagree with leadership effectively28:16 - A real example of “disagree but commit”33:00 - The art of managing upwards35:00 - How to say no without being abrasive36:55 - Never bring a problem without a solution38:45 - Practical ways to push back41:24 - The biggest leadership lesson: invest in relationships43:29 - Final takeaway

  3. Aug 3

    The Leadership Skills Every Manager Needs | Nitika Nagpal | Middle Manager Mastery

    What separates great leaders from overwhelmed managers? Often, it's not intelligence or experience—it's the ability to delegate effectively. In this episode of Middle Manager Mastery, I sit down with Nitika Nagpal to discuss why delegation feels so difficult, how to avoid becoming the bottleneck, and what it truly means to lead high-performing teams. From micromanagement and strategic thinking to navigating organizational change, AI disruption, and authentic leadership, Nitika shares practical lessons from nearly two decades of leading global teams across P&G, MediaCom, and the LEGO Group. Whether you're a first-time manager or an experienced leader, this conversation is packed with actionable insights you can apply immediately. About Nitika:Nitika Nagpal is a marketing leader with 17+ years of global experience driving brand growth, innovation, and high-performing teams across leading companies including P&G, MediaCom, and the LEGO Group. Timestamp: 00:00 – Introduction: Meet Nitika Nagpal01:23 – Why delegation feels so difficult03:42 – The moment Nitika realized she was the bottleneck05:52 – Should you step in or let your team figure it out?08:01 – How her approach to delegation evolved over time11:12 – Leading through AI, uncertainty, and constant change15:16 – Communicating organizational transformation without creating panic19:10 – Handling career progression concerns during change21:23 – Coaching teams through AI anxiety and career uncertainty23:29 – Honest leadership vs. oversharing26:16 – Boosting team morale during difficult decisions33:30 – What strategic thinking actually means37:38 – When strategy fails: Lessons from a product launch43:30 – How to make time for strategic thinking47:51 – Advice for first-time managers50:46 – Final leadership lessons: Cause good trouble

  4. Jul 28

    From Execution to Strategy: How Great Middle Managers Become Business Leaders | Featuring Yogesh Garde

    In this episode of Middle Manager Mastery, I sit down with Yogesh Garde, Vice President of Digital Strategy & Transformation at PepsiCo. With over 22 years of experience across PepsiCo, Deloitte, IBM, and consulting, Yogesh shares practical lessons on transitioning from being an exceptional executor to becoming a strategic business leader. The conversation explores what separates high-performing middle managers from executives, how to develop strategic thinking, influence without authority, navigate AI-driven disruption, and create psychologically safe teams that innovate and grow. About Yogesh Yogesh Garde is the Vice President of Digital Strategy & Transformation at PepsiCo. Over the past two decades, he has led large-scale digital transformations, built global capability centers, scaled product organizations, and helped organizations navigate complex change through strategy, innovation, and leadership. Timestamps:00:00 Intro & Welcome01:16 Why strategic thinking matters for middle managers02:15 The career shift from execution to strategy05:25 How to build strategic thinking as a daily habit11:15 Using OKRs to prioritize what truly matters15:39 Influence without authority & speaking your stakeholders' language17:51 The biggest mindset mistakes middle managers make24:18 AI, disruption & keeping teams motivated through change31:50 Is AI making us less creative?36:07 Does AI free up time- or just create more work?39:40 Building psychological safety in teams43:45 Final leadership advice for every middle manager45:18 Outro

  5. Jul 20

    Influencing Without Authority: The Leadership Skill Every Middle Manager Needs with Nishith

    How do you influence people who don't report to you? How do you build trust across teams, disagree with leadership without damaging relationships, and get work done when everyone has different priorities? In this episode of Middle Manager Mastery, I sit down with Nishith Kumar, Head of Partnerships at NextHealth and former leader at Uber, to unpack the practical skills every middle manager needs to lead through influence rather than authority. Drawing from over two decades of experience across fintech, mobility, and healthcare, Nishith shares real stories about stakeholder management, cross-functional leadership, escalation, constructive dissent, and building relationships that accelerate execution. Whether you're managing projects across teams, navigating matrix organizations, or preparing for leadership roles, this conversation is packed with actionable frameworks you can start applying immediately. About Nishith: He has spent 20 years building the partnerships that move industries forward. He scaled ecosystems across fintech, mobility, and healthcare, and he knows what it takes to lead without a title in some of the world's most complex organizations. Today, as head of partnerships at NextHealth, he is writing the future of how healthcare connects. Timestamps: 00:00 - "You don't lose because your idea is wrong—you lose because you pitched it in your language, not somebody else's." 00:08 - Introduction to Nishith Kumar and today's topic: influencing without authority. 00:53 - The challenge of leading cross-functional teams without formal authority. 01:39 - The Uber connected-car story: why the idea initially failed. 02:37 - Stop selling the feature. Start selling the future. 03:23 - Speaking the language of every stakeholder. 04:00 - Understanding what keeps different teams up at night. 05:33 - Why relationships are built through work, not outside of it. 06:01 - The three foundations of strong professional relationships. 07:05 - The Christmas Day story: relationships that saved a critical deal. 08:16 - Why relationships are the infrastructure behind execution. 09:41 - Not every relationship needs the same level of investment. 11:21 - Learning the hard way: waiting too long to escalate. 11:30 - The two types of escalation every leader should know. 12:50 - Escalate outcomes—not people. 14:13 - Finding bridges instead of creating conflict. 15:23 - Shruti's framework for solving cross-functional blockers. 17:11 - Executing a strategy you don't completely agree with. 18:24 - Becoming the bridge between strategy and execution. 19:14 - Three questions every middle manager should ask before executing. 19:39 - Why global strategies often fail without local context. 21:02 - Challenge assumptions, then commit to execution. 22:08 - Focus on the intent behind the strategy. 23:03 - Why leaders must keep repeating the "why." 24:48 - The right way to disagree with leadership. 25:16 - Why timing matters when expressing dissent. 26:11 - Replace "I disagree" with "Let's stress-test this assumption." 28:22 - Bring solutions, not just problems. 29:08 - The power of thoughtful language in difficult conversations. 31:22 - Help people look good while influencing change. 33:16 - Resource constraints create clarity. 34:12 - Building a single source of truth. 36:03 – Accountability comes from clarity, not authority. 37:55 - Final advice: Assume people want the same outcome as you.

  6. Jul 13

    Executive Presence, Strategic Thinking & Leading Through Change with Shrimati Damal

    What separates good managers from exceptional leaders? In this episode of Middle Manager Mastery, I sits down with Shrimati Damal, a global finance leader who has led teams across five countries, served as CFO for two multinational organizations, and been recognized among Forbes' 100 Most Influential Women. Drawing from more than 30 years of leadership experience, Shrimati shares practical lessons on developing executive presence, thinking strategically, influencing stakeholders, and leading with authenticity. The conversation explores how middle managers can build confidence in high-stakes meetings, adapt to different cultures without losing their identity, gain visibility with senior leadership, and develop strategic thinking even while managing day-to-day execution. Shrimati also shares actionable advice on presenting ideas that get noticed, handling rejection constructively, taking on stretch projects for faster career growth, and leading teams through uncertainty and organizational change. The episode concludes with a powerful reminder that leadership begins from within: before earning the trust of others, you must learn to trust yourself. Authenticity, self-awareness, and the courage to stay in your own corner are what truly define lasting leadership. About Shrimati: Shrimati Damal is a seasoned finance and business leader with over 30 years of global experience across India, Japan, Belgium, the USA, and the UAE. A former CFO and board executive at leading organizations including Majid Al Futtaim and Procter & Gamble, she now mentors and coaches the next generation of leaders, helping them build strategic thinking, executive presence, and authentic leadership.Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction to Shrimati Damal 01:02 – What executive presence really means03:48 – Reading the room & adapting your leadership04:37 – Commanding a room when the odds aren't in your favor07:33 – Pre-wiring stakeholders before difficult meetings08:41 – Why middle managers feel invisible10:49 – Strategic thinking vs. execution 12:12 – Connecting your role to business strategy15:35 – The OGSM framework 17:40 – How to convince leadership about your ideas21:27 – Building strategic thinking as a middle manager24:45 – Leading through uncertainty and disruption29:00 – Final leadership lesson

  7. Jul 6

    The Ecosystem Orchestrator: Building Partner Ecosystems That Scale with Neha

    In this episode of Middle Manager Mastery, I sit down with Neha Agarwal, GSP Leader India at AWS, to uncover what truly drives exceptional sales leadership. From building trust over techniques to creating thriving partner ecosystems, designing high-performing teams, handling AI disruption, and redefining work-life harmony, Neha shares practical lessons every manager, salesperson, and aspiring leader can apply immediately. About Neha:Neha Agarwal is a seasoned AWS leader with 23+ years of experience building high-impact partner ecosystems, driving AI-led growth, and creating scalable business strategies across cloud, enterprise technology, and strategic alliances. Timestamps: 00:05 Introduction to Neha Agarwal and her journey at AWS 01:20 The story behind selling "half a PC" and the biggest sales lesson 02:11 Why customers buy trust, not sales techniques 03:10 How great salespeople truly understand customer businesses 03:33 Ask better questions, listen deeply, and leverage communities 04:58 The "Give, Give, Get" framework for building powerful professional networks 05:29 How Neha built a 400+ member alliances community from scratch 06:41 Why giving first creates long-term career opportunities 07:26 Does pushing sales teams actually work? Breaking common myths 08:04 The surprising psychology behind quotas and accountability 08:52 When poor performance is actually a leadership design problem 09:44 Solving the real problem instead of blaming salespeople 11:16 Choosing the right partners instead of pushing the wrong strategy 12:58 Customer obsession: the simplest growth strategy most leaders ignore 14:30 Work-life harmony: lessons from burnout and unrealistic expectations 16:19 Why asking for help makes you a stronger leader 17:38 Why work-life balance is really about optimization, not perfection 18:21 Why middle managers are the backbone of every organization 18:37 The three skills every successful manager must develop 21:21 Adapting your leadership style for different team members 23:56 Helping teams navigate AI disruption and changing customer expectations 25:20 Two must-read books every woman leader should read 26:36 Final leadership advice and closing thoughts

  8. Jun 30

    Executive Presence: From Scorekeeper to Strategic Influencer | Manish Dokania

    What separates middle managers who stay execution-focused from those who become trusted strategic leaders? In this episode of Middle Manager Mastery, Shruti Rustagi sits down with Manish Dokania, a seasoned business leader from the Aditya Birla Group, to explore what executive presence really means beyond confidence and communication. Manish explains why middle managers are uniquely positioned to influence business outcomes - not because of their authority, but because of their proximity to operations. He shares practical frameworks for moving beyond functional expertise, speaking the language of business, managing outcomes instead of tasks, building clarity across teams, and developing the judgment leaders look for. Whether you're in finance, operations, HR, or any cross-functional role, this episode offers actionable lessons on becoming a strategic partner rather than just an executor. About the Author: Manish is a Chartered Accountant with over 25 years of experience, in Finance & Strategy. From driving Novelis integration into Hindalco to setting up metal recycling/scrap procurement, he has handled various assignments involving Commercial, Financial Reporting, Business Development, M&A and Corporate Strategy. Currently, he is working as the CFO of Chlor Alkali business of Grasim Industries (ABG). 00:00 – Introduction to Manish Dukanya and today's topic: Executive Presence 01:07 – What executive presence really means for middle managers 02:00 – From scorekeeper to strategic business influencer 03:53 – Why speaking the language of business matters more than speaking the language of your function 05:01 – Becoming a co-owner of business outcomes instead of reviewing results 05:52 – Moving from deep execution to broader business thinking 06:35 – Breaking free from the "gatekeeper" mindset 07:49 – Building high agency by managing outcomes, not tasks 08:16 – Why learning to say "no" is a leadership skill 09:22 – Creating clarity and aligning teams around shared objectives 10:35 – Delegation: What happens when things don't go as planned? 11:10 – Leadership during crises: Rolling up your sleeves when execution breaks down 12:10 – Coaching versus rescuing your team 13:00 – Final reflections and key takeaways

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About

Middle Manager Mastery helps transform Middle Managers into High Impact Leaders. In each episode, Shruti Rustagi sits down with senior leaders, founders, and experts to unpack the tools to move the managers from Execution to Influence and Impact. Real conversations. Honest insights. No fluff. Tools & Techniques on how to: → Hone Executive Communication → Build Executive Presence → Lead through change and disruption → Manage Up , down and sideways → Supercharge Productivity → Address Imposter Syndrome → Deal with a Difficult boss, toxic workplace → Strengthen Emotional Intelligence

Information

  • Creator
    Shruti Rustagi
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    20
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Shruti Rustagi
  • Show Website
    Middle Manager Mastery