Roopa Unnikrishnan is a Rhodes Scholar, strategist, and innovation leader. Her ability to align strategic vision with operational execution makes Unnikrishnan a trusted advisor to public companies, private equity firms, and executive teams navigating complex growth and transformation. She most recently served as Chief Strategy & Innovation Officer at IDEX Corporation, and brings two decades of experience across Pfizer, BlackRock, and Harman International. Earlier in her career, she founded Center10 Consulting, a boutique strategy advisory firm that served high-profile clients including Johnson & Johnson, Estee Lauder, and Al Jazeera News. She is the author of The Career Catapult, which won the Independent Press Award for Careers and has been published in multiple languages, and The Jasmine Murders, a mystery thriller with rave reviews. Born and raised in India, Unnikrishnan excelled in the competitive sport of rifle shooting, representing the nation at the Commonwealth Games and becoming India's first female gold medalist. She lives in New York City, NY, with her twins, husband and beagle.
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"I really admire the work Unnikrishnan put into this creative and compelling book, and of course especially her keen interest in getting the references to antiquity right. That, combined with her firsthand experience as a CSO, makes for a powerful and engaging read."--Keyne Cheshire, Joel O. Conarroe Professor of Classics at Davidson College "The Leader's Oracle is a sharp, timely call for a leadership grounded in the courage to ask better questions. Unnikrishnan shows why real transformation demands leaders who can hold complexity and think beyond the short term. A compelling book for executives, boards, and changemakers serious about leading with depth, discernment, and vision."--Ruchira Gupta, Emmy-winning journalist, best-selling author, and globally recognized advocate for women's rights "An incredible piece of work. The Leadership Oracle is a very ambitious project adding real value to the strategic leadership cannon. It is intellectual, but still down to earth. It showcases the depth of Unnikrishnan's thinking and her understanding of how organizations succeed. I love this concept: Using ancient oracles, especially Delphi to frame strategic thinking - less prediction, more disciplined inquiry and diagnosis."--Alan Cay Culler, author The Consulting Road "I've experienced Unnikrishnan to be an exceptional thinker from when we first worked together nearly 30 years ago, and have watched her lead from her role of the strategist across a broad array of industries and contexts. The best strategists live deeply in the space of questions and let those questions open up truths that would never arise from simply marching forward. In The Leader's Oracle, she shows us her craft and opens up her wide experience for all of us to learn from -- a generous act and a great gift."--Niko Canner, Founder of Incandescent "In an age of fast churn algorithms and impatient leadership, Unnikrishnan makes the case for slowing down and asking harder questions. The Leader's Oracle is a generous and warm guide to strategic judgment, grounded in real organizational experience and illuminated by ancient wisdom." --Mei Fong, Chief Narrative Officer of Windfall Trust, Pulitzer-winning WSJ journalist and author of One Child: The Past and Future of China's Most Radical Experiment "After decades of working around inspiring leaders, I've come to believe that wisdom--not certainty--is the antidote to uncertainty. In The Leader's Oracle, Roopa Unnikrishnan offers a refreshing perspective for all of us navigating a world that is unpredictable and complex. Rather than chasing easy answers, she challenges leaders to ask better questions, embrace ambiguity, and find clarity through disciplined inquiry. Drawing from both ancient wisdom and modern leadership experience, Unnikrishnan has created a thoughtful and timely guide for anyone seeking to lead with greater insight, courage, purpose, and humanity. This book invites leaders to think deeply, see clearly, and lead wisely."-- "Richard Sheridan"