The Learning Never Stops

Three Decades in Energy, and the Learning Never Stops: Manish Kumar Srivastava, COO

Straight out of college, Manish began his career as an electrical engineer in the manufacturing sector. What drew him to energy was its universality. Unlike many industries, electricity touches every Indian - every household, every city, every ambition. For Manish, energy was never just an industry. It was a responsibility, and one of the few sectors with the power to improve lives at scale.

Three decades later, that belief has only grown stronger. As he puts it, the energy sector reinvents itself every five years. New challenges emerge, technologies evolve, and the learning never stops.

When Manish started out, electricity was still a luxury in many parts of India. Over time, it became a necessity. As the country moved toward urbanisation, smart cities, electric mobility, and renewable energy, power emerged as the backbone of every sunrise sector. Policy milestones like the National Electricity Act marked a turning point, aiming to make electricity accessible to all. Concepts that were once unfamiliar became essential. Energy enabled that transformation.

Manish’s own career evolved in step with the sector. He moved across roles and functions, from design, marketing, global sourcing, to market leadership, building a well-rounded understanding of how decisions made on the ground shape outcomes at scale. In 2010, he transitioned from functional leadership to business leadership, taking on roles that expanded his view from execution to enterprise-level impact.

He joined Sterlite Electric in February 2023, at a time when the company was building scale and sharpening its ambition. That journey resonated with his own desire to help build something larger, stronger, and future-ready. What began as belief soon translated into performance, with the business growing threefold over the last two years.

Within a year, Manish was entrusted with leading the power cables business. Soon after, he took charge of the overhead conductors business - Sterlite’s largest. As these portfolios came together, he stepped into the role of Chief Operating Officer. For him, the rapid progression was not just personal validation. It reflected an organisation that places trust in leaders who are willing to step up, learn fast, and take ownership.

Cables and conductors were new terrain. Until then, his experience had largely been in integrated solutions such as transformers and substations. What helped him navigate this transition was the culture around him. Teams, peers, and colleagues supported him closely, with learning flowing both ways. Leadership, he believes, is never a solo act. That same belief shapes how he builds teams today - by widening the talent pool, challenging long-held assumptions about roles, and creating space for diverse perspectives. Focused inclusion efforts at Sterlite Electric have translated into real change on the ground, with women and other underrepresented groups now forming nearly 25 percent of the shop floor workforce.

He credits much of his broader perspective on scale and industry leadership to Sterlite Electric’s Managing Director, Mr. Pratik Agarwal. His vision encouraged Manish to think beyond company boundaries and engage with the wider ecosystem of regulators, policymakers, and industry forums. Representing Sterlite Electric on external platforms helped him grow not just as a leader, but as a voice within the sector.

Growth at Sterlite has been deliberate and structured. The focus was clear - market leadership, innovation, and a wider product portfolio for customers. In parallel, the company invested in capacity and capability through both brownfield and greenfield projects. Over time, the number of plants, SKUs, and overall scale multiplied. At the heart of this growth lies customer centricity. For Manish, the goal is simple but demanding: deliver practical solutions aligned to what customers need, how they need them, and when they need them. The benchmark is always best-in-class quality, speed, and cost efficiency.

What excites him most today is the pace of change in the energy sector. New technologies emerge every two to three years, opening opportunities across functions and disciplines. For young professionals, he sees energy as a space full of possibility if they are willing to remain lifelong learners.

Sterlite’s integrated presence across power generation, transmission and manufacturing and grid solutions gives it a unique advantage. Understanding challenges across the value chain sharpens problem-solving and improves execution. Looking ahead, Manish sees the company expanding into export markets, responding to strong global demand - particularly in cables. Innovation, exports, and domestic leadership together define the scale of Sterlite’s future as a global power infrastructure leader.

What keeps him motivated every day is the opportunity to build teams that are ready for the future. For Manish, teamwork is the foundation of every successful organisation. Showing up each day to engage, encourage, and prepare people for what lies ahead is what gives his work meaning.