Sonia Arora shares her experience where a petroleum tanker needed evacuation in a snow-covered area. With the fuel-loaded tanker at risk, the stakes were incredibly high.

Sonia is an Army Veteran with more than 12 years experience in preparing and allocating budgets to execute key operations and projects. She is an IIM Lucknow alumni, a Logistics and Supply Chain Management, Operations Management professional.

In leadership, especially when the stakes are high and time is short, making quick and informed judgment calls is vital. When faced with limited time and data, the best leaders rely on their intuition, experience, and on-the-ground presence.

I vividly recall an incident where a petroleum tanker needed evacuation in a snow-covered area. With the fuel-loaded tanker at risk, the stakes were incredibly high. There wasn’t much time to deliberate, and the urgency of the moment demanded immediate action. In a scenario with no regular network communication, bone-freezing temperatures, and the clock ticking, a swift judgment call was essential. Being present on ground and alert, the crucial decisions were made. The prompt actions not only saved valuable fuel and the vehicle but also safeguarded those involved from potential harm.

This experience reinforced my belief that leadership is often about making the right call at the right moment. It’s about trusting your instincts and leveraging your experience to navigate through uncertain and challenging situations.