“Transformation doesn’t happen through systems alone, it happens through people”: Minal Srinivasan, MD of Kesari Infrabuild 

Minal Srinivasan, Managing Director of Kesari Infrabuild, is rewriting the rulebook for leadership in the traditionally rigid infrastructure sector. Her impactful journey, forged by an extensive background in education and talent management, proves that transformation begins not with blueprints, but with people. She champions a collaborative and empathetic approach, leveraging it to bridge strategy with execution on complex environmental projects.  

As a top woman leader in a male-dominated field, she uses challenges as fuel, actively creating space for the next generation of women to rise. Srinivasan also reveals her secret weapon for navigating high-stakes decisions: a disciplined routine of yoga and art, which she calls her daily operating system for sustaining clarity and purpose. 

How has your extensive background in education and talent management shaped your approach to leadership and problem-solving within the infrastructure sector? 

My career journey began in education and talent development, where I learned early that transformation doesn’t happen through systems alone, it happens through people. Working closely with students, professionals and evolving teams taught me how to identify potential, nurture capability and design solutions that are scalable and human-centric. These learnings deeply shape how I approach leadership in the infrastructure sector today. 

Infrastructure is often seen as a technical field driven by engineering and execution, but at its core it is about solving real societal problems, connectivity, urban growth, employment, sustainability and access. My background enables me to bridge strategy with empathy. I approach every challenge by asking two questions: How can we make this impactful? And how can we make this sustainable for people who will use it every day? I believe in collaborative leadership, bringing diverse expertise together, building accountability frameworks, and developing agile teams capable of adapting to complex on-ground realities. 

Ultimately, my work is driven by purpose. Whether in education or infrastructure, I remain focused on building ecosystems that empower people, enable progress and create long-term value. 

As a woman leading in a male-dominated industry, what specific challenges have you faced, and what do you see as your role in mentoring and empowering the next generation of women professionals in this field? 

Leading in a male-dominated industry like infrastructure comes with its own unique challenges. Early in my career, I often had to work twice as hard to be heard, not just to prove competency but to overcome preconceived biases about a woman’s capability in complex, large-scale project environments.  

There were moments when decisions were second-guessed, or my presence at the table was seen as symbolic rather than strategic. Instead of allowing that to discourage me, I used it as fuel, to excel, to build credibility through consistent delivery, and to lead with clarity and conviction. 

However, I also believe that change shouldn’t come from resistance alone, it must come from example and inclusion. My role now is not just to grow as a leader but to create space for other women to rise. I actively mentor young professionals, advocate for merit-based leadership, and promote environments where diverse perspectives are valued. Representation matters, when women see other women leading confidently in tough sectors, it rewrites possibility. 

My mission is simple: to ensure that the next generation of women doesn’t just participate in this industry, they shape it. 

Your commitment to wellness through yoga, clean eating, and art is integral to your story. How does this personal discipline directly fuel your leadership, creativity, and the ability to maintain clarity in a high-stakes environment? 

In high-pressure industries like infrastructure, decision-making isn’t just strategic, it’s emotional, mental, and deeply human. My commitment to wellness through yoga, clean eating, and art isn’t a lifestyle choice; it is a foundation that strengthens my clarity, resilience, and leadership energy.  

Yoga teaches balance and alignment, two principles I carry into leadership. It helps me respond rather than react, especially in complex negotiations or high-stakes project decisions. Clean eating keeps my body and mind energized, allowing me to sustain long workdays without compromising focus or emotional bandwidth. 

Art, on the other hand, fuels my creativity and problem-solving ability. It encourages me to see patterns, embrace new perspectives, and think beyond conventional frameworks, an approach essential in an evolving sector like infrastructure that demands both structure and innovation. These practices collectively create mental discipline. They help me stay centered, even when leading teams through uncertainty or driving long-term transformation. 

Wellness for me is not a weekend escape, it is a daily operating system. It allows me to show up consistently with clarity, empathy, and purpose, empowering both my team and myself to perform at our best. 

Looking at the future of environmental infrastructure in India, what is one major challenge you foresee, and how is Kesari Infrabuild innovating to stay ahead of it? 

India is entering a decisive decade for environmental infrastructure. Urbanization is accelerating and industries are expanding, but sustainability systems are not keeping pace. The biggest challenge ahead is not lack of technology or funding, it is the gap between vision and execution. Environmental infrastructure projects often struggle due to fragmented on-ground implementation, poor integration between agencies, and the absence of scalable models that balance economic growth with ecological accountability. 

At Kesari Infrabuild, we see this as an opportunity to lead with implementation-focused innovation. Right form the advisory role in ensuring clients meet the environmental compliance needs to designing modular, rapidly deployable infrastructure solutions for wastewater treatment, waste management, and industrial effluent systems our approach integrates IoT-enabled monitoring and data-driven compliance, ensuring long-term efficiency rather than short-term fixes.  

Additionally, we are building public-private collaboration frameworks, working closely with local governments and industry partners to accelerate execution and ensure regulatory alignment. Our mission is to turn environmental compliance from a burden into a growth enabler for India’s industrial and urban transformation.