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A Career Across Command, Classroom & Coaching

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Colonel Rajiv Bhargava

Human-Centred Leadership  ·  Executive Coach  ·  Narrative Strategist

I am a career soldier turned leadership educator, narrative strategist, and executive coach. After more than two decades of command in the Indian Army, I now work with leaders who must influence, inspire, and communicate with clarity in complex environments — helping them command attention, build trust, and move people to action.

My work helps leaders move from authority of position to authority of narrative.

20+
Years Military Leadership
13
Years Mentoring at ISB
50+
Executives Coached
10K+
YouTube Subscribers
Two Decades in Command

The Army Years

I commanded a battalion of 1,000 soldiers, and later taught tactics, leadership, and strategy at the Army War College and the Army Air Defence College.

Thirteen Years at ISB

The Indian School of Business

I mentored more than 50 action-learning projects for managers, and led commercial operations during the development of the ISB Mohali campus.

Faculty & Educator

In the Classroom Today

Visiting Faculty for Executive Education at ISB, empanelled with Emeritus, and Faculty at HSB, teaching the Think Communicate Lead programme.

What I Teach

The Craft of Influence

Leadership storytelling, business storytelling, data storytelling, brand narrative, and executive presence.

One-on-One Coaching

Executive Coaching

An Erickson-accredited executive coach and certified EQ-i 2.0 practitioner, working one-on-one with senior leaders.

Qualifications

Education & Credentials

  • MBA, Indian School of Business
  • Masters in Defence Studies, DSSC Wellington
  • Erickson Accredited Executive Coach
  • Certified in EQ-i 2.0
  • Faculty — HSB, Think Communicate Lead
150+

MBA students in a business storytelling workshop at KLE Technological University

40

First-year MBA students in a personal-brand and leadership orientation session

50+

Action-learning projects mentored for mid- and senior managers at ISB

13 yrs

Association with the Indian School of Business, across faculty and mentoring roles

Executive coaching engagements are grounded in Erickson-accredited practice and EQ-i 2.0 assessment.

Credentials & Recognition

Certifications & Institutional Associations

Selected credentials, honours, and associations that inform the work.

All Credentials
Commission as an Officer — The President of India
Commission as an Officer — The President of India
Commendation (Prashansa Patra) — General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command
Commendation (Prashansa Patra) — General Officer Commanding-in-Chief, Army Training Command
Long Gunnery Staff Course — Air Defence & Guided Missile School
Long Gunnery Staff Course — Air Defence & Guided Missile School
Post Graduate Programme in Management — Indian School of Business
Post Graduate Programme in Management — Indian School of Business
Founding Team Member, Mohali Campus — Indian School of Business
Founding Team Member, Mohali Campus — Indian School of Business
Ten Years of Dedicated Service — Indian School of Business
Ten Years of Dedicated Service — Indian School of Business
Business Writing & Storytelling, with Distinction — The Economist
Business Writing & Storytelling, with Distinction — The Economist
Erickson Accredited Coach (EAC) — Erickson Coaching International, ICF Accredited
Erickson Accredited Coach (EAC) — Erickson Coaching International, ICF Accredited
Mentor Competence Certificate — ISB LEAD Mentorship Programme
Mentor Competence Certificate — ISB LEAD Mentorship Programme
Business Storytelling — ISB storywallahs
Business Storytelling — ISB storywallahs
Certificate of Appreciation — Guru Nanak Dev University College, Jalandhar
Certificate of Appreciation — Guru Nanak Dev University College, Jalandhar
EQ-i 2.0 & EQ 360 Certified — Multi-Health Systems
EQ-i 2.0 & EQ 360 Certified — Multi-Health Systems
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