Vishal Sonawane Talks About His Book “The Prism of Leadership”

About the Author:

Vishal Sonawane is an accomplished Entrepreneurship and Business Coach with over 16 years of expertise in Learning and Development. He has partnered with organisations across diverse industries to design leadership strategies, build future-ready leaders, and foster cultures of innovation and growth. Known for his practical frameworks and transformative approach, Vishal empowers businesses to align leadership development with strategic goals, ensuring measurable impact and sustainable success.

Exclusive interview with the author

Q: What Inspired You To Write This Book?

A: As a consultant and a trainer, I have met many leaders and employees of good organisations. There are a lot of expectations from leaders, and it is purely hierarchy-based. We often bring people in from outside instead of nurturing the talent within. Even when we promote someone, we see technical or quality of the job, etc. Also, there is no clear growth path for the juniors,
I wrote this book to make leaders think beyond their titles, designations, and control. I wanted to give them a practical tool that makes leadership competencies practical, visible, and actionable. This basic thought inspired me to write The Prism of Leadership.

Q: Can You Tell Us About The Book?

A: This book presents a practical, implementable, and manageable tool for real leadership development. Built on the VIBGYOR framework, it helps leaders strengthen competencies that can be applied to individual growth, team effectiveness, and overall organisational development. The Prism of Leadership goes beyond theory and offers a structured way to implement these competencies systematically, including integration through HRMS to make leadership development measurable and consistent.

Q: What Does The Title Mean?

A: I wrote a small article about the prism and the refraction, and how I see the leader as a prism. The title The Prism of Leadership represents the idea that leadership isn’t one single trait or skill. Just like a prism breaks white light into VIBGYOR, leadership breaks into multiple competencies — each distinct, each essential. When leaders understand and develop these different “colours” or dimensions, they can see themselves more clearly, lead more effectively, and create a stronger impact on their teams and organisations.

Q: Was The Character Inspired By A Real Person?

A: Absolutely yes! The examples quoted, the VMPL story in this book, are shaped by many real leaders I’ve met in my work as a consultant. The examples and situations come directly from the conversations, challenges, and experiences I’ve witnessed in various organisations. I’ve learned from these people, their strengths, and the obstacles they face — and their journeys. This helped to generate the idea of the Prism of Leadership.

Q: How Important Is Research To You When Writing A Book?

A: Research is extremely important to me. As a consultant, I draw heavily from real conversations, real leaders, and real workplace situations. The insights in this book come from observing patterns across different organisations, understanding the challenges leaders face, and studying how competencies actually show up in day-to-day behaviour. Research kept the book practical and grounded—it ensures that every idea, especially the VIBGYOR framework, is relevant, applicable, and aligned with the realities leaders experience today.

This book is published by OrangeBooks Publication. All rights are reserved with the author & the publisher.