Nipun Marya, CEO iQOO – Leaders In Tech & Auto

1. What’s your leadership mantra in the fast-evolving tech landscape?

Stay hungry, stay curious is my mantra. If you do what everyone else has already done, redundancy and your survival are under threat. Every time we launch a product, our number one question is—how do we make it the best and the first in the segment? If you follow the trajectory of our launches—be it the flagship number series, Neo or Z series—you’ll see this mindset at work.

2. How do you inspire and motivate your team during a challenging time?

We launched iQOO in early 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic. This black swan event changed dynamics entirely, with people focusing more on essentials than technology. For a new brand in a fiercely competitive market, adapting wasn’t easy.

It was a test for me as CEO, and kudos to the team for showing tremendous agility. Overnight, we recalibrated strategy to meet the growing need for high-performance devices that supported work, study, and play from home. We leaned into digital channels and highlighted iQOO’s strengths in performance and gaming. This disciplined, audience-first approach helped us sail through and carve a niche.

It also instilled an entrepreneurial mindset in the team—they actively seek challenges. My role is to give them the confidence to push limits, knowing I’ll stand by them if anything goes wrong.

3. In an era of AI and automation, how do you see the role of human leadership evolving?

AI can assist with data-driven decisions, but it can’t understand what makes employees or consumers tick—their aspirations and motivations. Albert Mehrabian’s research shows 55% of communication is body language, 38% tone of voice, and only 7% is actual words. Try getting AI to decode that and it will fail. AI is a tool, not a replacement for human empathy and understanding.

4. Tell us about a major screw-up in your career.

At a previous organization, we launched a product before understanding our target audience. We built first, then tried to fit consumers into the plan. It didn’t work. The lesson was simple: always start with the consumer. Design, features, and communication should follow insight—not the other way around.

5. What’s a mistake you see many young tech entrepreneurs making?

Over-leveraging on trending technologies that lack practical or long-term consumer relevance. Innovation must balance novelty with real consumer needs.

6. How do you handle failure, and how do you encourage a failure-friendly organisation?

Remove the fear from failure and great things happen. If you’re not failing occasionally, you’re not pushing hard enough. I encourage the team to learn, grow, and make new mistakes—not repeat old ones. I always listen, respect their views, and offer honest feedback. That openness builds trust and resilience.

7. What’s the next big disruption you foresee in tech?

We’ve only scratched the surface with AI. The rise of AIoT will transform smart cities, healthcare, and transportation. Smartphones will play a key role in integrating these intelligent ecosystems.

8. How do you unplug from the tech world?

Tennis and reading are non-negotiables. Reading fuels continuous learning, while tennis teaches discipline and clears my mind. I play two to three times a week, no matter how packed my schedule is. If not for tech, I’d have pursued tennis professionally.

9. Books that changed your perspective on leadership and tech?

Principles by Ray Dalio and Mindset by Carol Dweck. Dalio’s structured approach and Dweck’s insights on growth mindset have been immensely influential.

10. Any quote or podcast recommendation?

A saying I believe in: “The devil lies in the details.” Success often hinges on small elements done right—something I’ve seen play out time and again in product development and strategy.