Books & Publications
Practical guides for leadership development, emotional intelligence, and professional growth. Written from my lived experience as both a C-suite leader and coach, bridging the gap between business reality and inner work.
Growing as a Leader: The Inner Journey
The Inner Journey
A practical and reflective leadership handbook grounded in four decades of corporate experience and recent work as an executive coach. This book presents insights, tools, and personal reflections for emerging and senior leaders navigating complexity, building resilient teams, and leading with authenticity.
After 22 years in the C-Suite, I realized that sustainable leadership change begins with inner clarity. This book shares the insights I wish I had earlier in my career.
"Drawing on decades of experience as both an executive and a coach, C.K. Venkatraman blends practical insight with timeless wisdom, showing that leadership is less about authority and more about awareness, mindset, and growth. Written with warmth and clarity, this book is both a mirror and a mentor—a companion for anyone committed to becoming a more authentic and effective leader."
— Dr. Marshall Goldsmith
Thinkers50 #1 Executive Coach and New York Times bestselling author of The Earned Life, Triggers, and What Got You Here Won't Get You There
Key Takeaways
- •Leadership growth begins as an inner journey, not just outer results
- •Building self-awareness and emotional intelligence as leadership foundation
- •Practical frameworks for navigating transitions and organizational change
- •Developing resilience and authenticity in leadership
- •Translating personal growth into business impact
What Readers Say
Drawing upon the lessons of a career spanning four decades in some of the world's most reputed companies, Venkat distills the essence of real-world leadership into a series of easy-to-read and deeply insightful articles. What I liked about this...
Aruna
June 2025
Before I show you why this book deserves 5 stars let me tell you what it's not. It's not a self-help book. The author doesn't give you listicles like '5 ways to boost your confidence as a leader' or '10 things to avoid if you.....'. It's also not a...
Sanjay Deshmukh
June 2025
"Growing as a Leader" by C.K. Venkatraman is a great handbook on leadership for aspiring leaders. It is well structured into sections on various dimensions of leadership with detailing of their practice . The anecdotes and stories bring the concepts...
Ramesh Doraiswami
September 2025
Growing as a Leader: The Inner Journey — A Must‑Read for Every Leader I recently finished reading Growing as a Leader: The Inner Journey by C.K. Venkatraman, and it's easily one of the most impactful leadership books I've come across. What makes...
Bhavesh Shah
January 2026
Growing as a Leader – The Inner Journey by C.K. Venkataraman is a thoughtful and honest exploration of what truly shapes a leader from within. The book stands out for its simplicity and depth, offering reflections that feel relatable and practical...
Pradeep Kumar
December, 2025
A practical approach to everyday issues the leaders face, this book can be relied upon for finding options and solutions by leaders in all walks of life. Venkat has used his coaching skills well by touching softer aspects of leadership and relating...
Neeraj Jain
January 2026
I finally completed your book - Growing as a Leader by C. K. Venkatraman. When I first came across the book, I wondered if it might be too heavy or academic but that was not the case at all. The language is simple, the print is large, and the...
Gira Sardesai
February 2026
I read the book Growing as a leader by my friend CK Venkatraman. I have known Venkat from our time at J&J sharp, thoughtful, and deeply grounded. Growing as a Leader reflects that same clarity. What I appreciate about this book is its practicality....
A Vaidheesh
February 2026
"Growing as a Leader" is an insightful guide designed for those who want to enhance their leadership abilities in today's fast-changing world. It emphasizes the importance of continuous personal development and encourages readers to reflect on their...
Y Y Narayanan
January 2026
Reading Growing as a Leader, a management book, felt like sitting with a mentor. The author has used a simple formula for helping us understand complex leadership aspects. He did not seem to preach but has guided us to pause, reflect, and ask...
Sharimila
September 2025