New Delhi, June 22 -- Like most kids of his generation, Siddharth Jain was an ardent fan of Sachin Tendulkar. His prowess on the field apart, what really struck a chord was the legendary cricketer's ability to carry pressure with grace and show up match after match, regardless of the noise around him. Jain knows a thing or two about it, having spent 18 long years in consultancy with Kearney India.

"In my field, no two years look the same. The sectors have evolved, the clients have grown more sophisticated and the problems are more complex. There is always something new to figure out," says Mumbai-based Jain, 42, Managing Partner & Country Head, Kearney India.

His biggest learning over the years has come through conversations with client...