Building from the Core: The Rise of Indictrans’ Elite Squad

 

Author: Kanhaiya Kale

“Great companies are built not by extraordinary individuals, but by extraordinary teams.”

Forming a leadership team at Indictrans has never been a straightforward task. Over the years, we’ve experimented with various models  hiring a core team, appointing departmental leads yet nothing seemed to click the way we visualised. Perhaps, deep down, we co-founders believed we were sufficient. Or maybe it’s because everyone already thought of themselves as a leader.

But when it comes to delivering consistent excellence and scaling sustainably, leadership matters. It’s the difference between reactive management and proactive growth.

 

The Co-Founders’ Realization

After 16 years of navigating through the highs and lows of Indictrans, Gupteshwar and I have come to deeply understand one thing: a company’s future depends on a strong, empowered leadership team that takes true ownership not just in task execution, but in vision and direction.

We’ve often struggled with maintaining balance between meeting service standards, fulfilling customer expectations, and aligning our internal teams’ mindset. As Rushabh Mehta, founder of Frappe, rightly says, “Setting high standards is essential.” And we realized it’s time to truly live that philosophy.

 

Why the Core Team Matters

Building a leadership team isn’t just about hiring top talent. It’s about identifying people who resonate with our values, think beyond their roles, and are willing to grow into torchbearers of Indictrans’ mission.

This reflection gave birth to a pivotal move in our journey: the formation of the Elite Squad.

 

Meet the Elite Squad of Indictrans

This isn’t just a leadership group. It’s a forum of action, consisting of committed professionals who lead by example, solve problems collaboratively, and focus on grooming the next wave of talent. The current squad includes:

Ghanshyam B

Aachal D

Shraddha R

Apurva H

Sejal S

Karandeep R

Afshan K

Gupteshwar

Myself

Each of them brings distinct strengths: patience, perseverance, assertiveness, and adaptability. Together, these qualities form the bedrock of the culture we want to nurture.

 

From Strategy to Mentorship

While everyone was very eager to ask questions and explore more about Indictrans, they were a little worried about the openness and how to approach me with their queries, which made them a bit nervous.

The Elite Squad has already taken the lead in defining a strategic roadmap for the year, establishing review metrics and departmental goals. But more importantly, they’ve begun shaping the very culture of Indictrans grooming their teams, facilitating training, and driving open dialogue.

These leaders are not just focusing on their areas of expertise or their department’s day-to-day operations. They are mentors grooming their teams, conducting various training sessions, and leading knowledge development initiatives. They proactively guide their teams. Conflict is inevitable in any team environment; however, it’s important to address conflicts promptly and constructively.

Team members should be encouraged to communicate openly and honestly with
each other and work together to find solutions.Building a core team is not just about hiring the right people; it also about creating a collaborative and supportive environment where they can thrive. A strong team culture is essential for fostering innovation, productivity, and long-term success. In reality, building or forming a core team is incredibly challenging.

First of all, they need to align with the company’s strengths and values and integrate themselves into the culture. They must adapt to the changes necessary in their working approach and they did just that. They accepted the changes required in themselves. Now, they are setting benchmarks and encouraging the team to break those benchmarks and create their own.

They are no longer just “managers.” They are becoming mentors, enablers, and culture carriers.

 

Leadership That Inspires

True leadership takes courage. It demands constant self-reflection, a strong sense of purpose, and the ability to listen and adapt.

This squad has not only accepted the challenges it has embraced change. Today, they are setting new benchmarks, and encouraging their teams to exceed them.

A Living Journey

Over a series of discussions, casual coffees, thoughtful lunches, and late dinners we’ve collectively shaped a living document. It outlines our vision, our path forward, and the leadership mindset we all need to embody. But this is just the beginning.

Elite Squad’s Mission:

To transform Indictrans into a globally renowned workplace where every individual aspires to belong, grow, and thrive.

Aspiring to be a leader and actually being ready for leadership are two very different things. You know how managers work. I am talking about the leaders who inspire, guide, and bring out the best in people and the people who just assign tasks. True leadership takes more than just skills. It requires a deep understanding of people, a strong sense of direction, and a solid commitment to values. We spent several sessions together to shape a document that lays out the path each of us needs to follow.

 This isn’t just a one-time plan, it’s a living document, something we’ll all own and continue to refine as we grow. Our journey doesn’t end here; in fact, it’s just the beginning.

Here’s to the team that leads with purpose, mentors with passion, and drives us all forward.

“The function of leadership is to produce more leaders, not more followers.” 

Let’s keep building together.