I met CK in Ann Arbor about 20+ years ago. I was in Apple International Marketing. I met him in a coffee shop at the U of M and he asked me series of questions about Apple and we talked about core incompetence of Apple. I asked him whether Strategic Intent could be connected to spiritual concept of Intentionality (Sankalp -- as it is said in India) and he looked at me strangely and said of course not. I explained it from Indian spirituality perspective and he listened quietly.
We ran into each other many times but did not interact much in 90s. And I found he started Praja with another friend Ramesh Jain and we started talking again. When i started the TiE Institute with Praveen Gupta, we asked CK to give a presentation for entrepreneurs. He talked about value of diversity in a team. That evening, when we were having dinner, he shared that he spent past several months helping a local high tech company come up with strategy and that day 300 of senior managers came together and accepted to take that strategy forward. I made a note and mentioned that I would be buying some stock of that company the next day and his quick comment was ''don't." He explained that good strategy does not mean good execution. He can only help with strategy but if the culture rejects it, the company will not benefit it. I showed him my strategy culture and leadership framework and he encouraged me to write it up. I still have not.
After I started with ISB, we ran into each other many times. He caught me giving Reiki to a colleague of mine, Ajit in a party and asked me about what I was doing. When i mentioned, he had several questions about it and also about how I apply spiritual principles in my management work. We talked about writing something together but never followed up.
My last meeting with CK was a few months ago in Amsterdam airport. He was with his wife, daughter and kids. We spent 3-4 hours looking at Indian models of leadership, innovation and the underlying principles -- Dharma and wisdom. He was very interested and some of his opinions clashed with mine. I told him about my concept of core incompetence -- the flip side of ones signature strength. He said that I should write it up and offered to introduce me to Anand. (A few weeks later, i got introduced to him through Anjali Raina). He wanted to stay in touch and felt that wisdom leadership approach and affordable innovation are right things for India to project and gain thought leadership on. Promised to visit me when he comes to the bay area next and it never did happen.
In 20+ years of friendship, I found that he thinks deeply. He asks good questions and is willing to be challenged. Stays with the same idea for a long time and collects data. With time, I found him to dig deeper on issues he did not have interest when I first met him. I did not go to him for new ideas but for validation and support and probing questions. He was always a gentleman and very supportive friend. I will miss him greatly.