LEADING BEYOND THE DESK: MY LESSONS FROM THE REAL WORLD OF LEADERSHIP : Building Teams, Scaling Innovation, and Leading Across Cultures

Liyakhat Ali Khan is a seasoned R&D engineering leader with over 25 years of experience in the global automotive industry. Formerly Senior Program Manager at Mercedes Benz R&D India and Daimler Truck Innovation Center India, he has built and led high-performing, cross-border teams across Germany, Japan, and the U.S. A mechanical engineer from UVCE, Bangalore, and MBA(E) from Symbiosis, Pune, he blends technical expertise with business acumen. Specializing in interior systems, he holds multiple patents and awards for innovation and leadership. Based in Pune, he continues to champion human-centered leadership and innovation in complex engineering organizations.