In a world driven by relentless change—where innovation is prized but human stories risk being overlooked. True leaders distinguish themselves not by the volume of their voice, but by the depth of their listening. Akanksha S Gulia is one such leader.
Today, as a Senior Consultant at Deloitte, Akanksha shapes the future at the intersection of business strategy, design thinking, and human-centered innovation. Yet her journey did not begin amid corporate boardrooms or global consulting firms. It began in the evolving landscapes of a nomadic defense upbringing in India.
I grew up immersed in diversity, constantly learning from new environments, cultures, and what ignites people’s passions, she recalls. Each move offered a lesson in resilience, empathy, and adaptability.
Her childhood became her first classroom. Diversity, her greatest teacher. Creative disciplines set the compass for her career:
- Architecturesharpened her appreciation for structure and intentionality.
- Designheightened her empathy and curiosity—“It taught me to look beneath the obvious and uncover hidden potential.”
- And people, through their untold stories, gave her purpose and vision.
Threads from these experiences wove the foundation of a multidisciplinary career defined by adaptability, depth, and a deep commitment to elevating the human experience.
A Journey Rooted in Creativity, Evolved Through Strategy
Transitioning from architecture to consulting, Akanksha didn’t see a leap, but an evolution, naturally inspired by her fascination with people and the spaces shaping them.
Her work across India and the United States revealed that environments shape behavior, culture motivates resilience, and design impacts well-being. Every disciplinary leap has challenged me to look beneath the obvious and uncover hidden potential, Akanksha says.
Curiosity led her to question assumptions and reimagine traditional problem-solving. She entered consulting equipped with a rare ability: the seamless blending of analytical rigor with emotional intelligence, creative insight with strategic vision.
Consulting, at its core, is a profoundly human pursuit: grasping others aspirations, hurdles, and ambitions, she notes.
This conviction, instilled in her by mentors in India, shaped her belief that lasting impact begins with empathy. “Great design and great leadership begin with understanding human ambitions and needs.” That lesson is not just her foundation—it is the principle that continues to guide her journey today.
Designing With, Not For: The Philosophy Behind Her Leadership
In every workshop, conversation, or strategy session, Akanksha is guided by an unwavering belief: Design with people, not for them. It’s about actively co-creating solutions that illuminate hidden user needs, she explains.
Whether navigating the complexities of healthcare, retail, or finance, Akanksha has witnessed how human-centered design uncovers needs that traditional business models often miss. One particularly transformative experience saw her leading a cross-border initiative, reimagining customer experience by directly engaging with users from multiple geographies. By inviting open dialogue and creative exploration, we unearthed subtle pain points once missed, fueling solutions that truly resonated, she recalls.
The outcome was far more than functional, it sparked a cultural transformation. Teams became more curious, more empathetic, and more willing to challenge assumptions, Akanksha says.
For her, this is what innovation really means:
“Genuine innovation listens before it leads. It’s not technology alone, but what technology enables for real people.”
Breaking Barriers & Redefining Leadership
Navigating male-dominated spaces, Akanksha’s journey has been defined by courage, resilience, and an unwavering sense of responsibility. She credits her male colleagues who have become allies and amplifiers of her mission, even as she gracefully navigates the quiet biases that sometimes arise.
To her, breaking barriers isn’t about resistance, it’s about opening pathways.
“It’s choosing the path less traveled, trusting your voice, and opening doors for those who walk behind you.”
Akanksha views women’s leadership as multidimensional and human-centered, blending empathy, resourcefulness, adaptability, and the gift of harmonizing complexity.
“Women don’t just solve problems; they humanize them.”
Her advice to young women echoes the heart of her journey:
“Your story is your strategy. Lead with it.”
Consulting With Purpose: Bringing Empathy Into Business
At Deloitte, Akanksha is recognized for her unwavering honesty, transparency, and remarkable ability to transform complex business challenges into actionable, people-centered solutions. She purposefully fosters team cultures where ideas flow freely, diverse viewpoints are celebrated, and genuine breakthroughs stem from collaboration—not hierarchy.
Innovation should be ethical. Solutions must elevate lives, Akanksha emphasizes.
“Success is measured not by accolades, but by futures uplifted.”
Her approach as a leader is marked by unwavering clarity and genuine compassion. She listens deeply before leading, questions before creating, and infuses her decisions with a commitment to sustainability and integrity at every step.
No matter the audience or challenge, her guiding principle remains:
“Build systems that honor human needs first—everything else follows.”
The Future of Human-Centered Design & a World in Transformation
Looking ahead to the next five years, Akanksha envisions human-centered design becoming increasingly critical in domains where empathy is non-negotiable, and the stakes are profound—sectors such as healthcare, defense, education, and digital government.
She believes that as AI and disruptive technologies accelerate change, the world will depend on leaders who balance technical mastery with ethical intent.
“Technology expands possibilities—but humanity gives them meaning.”
Her vision for the future is one where innovation is inclusive, sustainable, and always anchored in responsibility. It’s a future shaped not just by what we build, but by why and for whom we build it.
A Legacy of Possibility: What Comes Next
For Akanksha, what comes next isn’t about pursuing titles, it’s about pursuing purpose. Her mission is clear: to amplify untapped voices, create equitable pathways for women and underrepresented groups, and design systems that uplift rather than overshadow.
She measures her legacy not by her own ascent, but by the people she empowers along the way.
“True influence,” she reflects, “is lighting a spark in others so their brilliance can lead the way.”
Akanksha embodies a new era of leadership, one where soul guides strategy, and creativity moves in step with clarity. For her, success isn’t defined by individual achievement, but by collective impact.
She isn’t just breaking barriers, she is building bridges, creating space for others to rise and lead.
And in 2025, Akanksha stands among the most influential women shaping a future where business leadership is more inclusive, more visionary, and more human than ever before.
