In the latest edition of the CXO Leadership Live series, industry trailblazers gathered to explore “Survive, Thrive, Revive – The Innovation Reset,” a timely conversation on how businesses navigated disruption, reshaped operations, and are now setting the stage for renewed growth. Moderated by Aqsa Tariq, Editor-in-Chief for CXO Media, and co-moderated by Thomas Schmidt, Director of Engineering Solutions at Empiric AI, the panel featured an impressive cross-section of C-level leaders and transformation experts from banking, energy, retail, food manufacturing, and technology.
Panelists included:
- Saira A. Khan, Director HR & IR, National Foods Ltd
- Abrar Mir, Group Head Innovation, Habib Bank Ltd
- Rehan Qadri, Head of Digital Business Transformation, Khaadi
- Inam ur Rahman, CEO, Dawood Hercules
- Kh. Tanveer Saleem, CIO, United Energy Pakistan
- Alia Zafar, Group Head HR, Bank of Punjab
- Salman Chaudhary, CEO, Empiric AI
These voices from banking, retail, energy, manufacturing, and AI came together to unpack how their organizations not only survived one of the most disruptive global crises—but are now laying the groundwork for long-term revival through innovation and human-centered strategy.
Watch the full session here:
The Innovation Reset: Lessons in Agility
The pandemic wasn’t just a health crisis—it was an innovation accelerator. Overnight, boardrooms turned into Zoom calls, and approvals became digital. One large-scale national social relief effort—disbursing over Rs. 150 billion to 14 million families—stood as a testament to what’s possible with rapid digital execution.
Leaders noted that beyond technology, it was trust, autonomy, and flexibility that enabled high performance. Organizations that had already invested in cloud infrastructure and collaboration platforms like Microsoft Teams found the transition seamless. Digital tools evolved from communication enablers to full-scale collaboration environments. Learning also shifted gears, with platforms like LinkedIn Learning helping employees upskill during downtime.
Culture, Communication, and the Human Imperative
Human resource leaders across the board echoed a shift to people-first thinking. In the early months, anxiety over health and job security gripped the workforce. Companies responded swiftly—with job guarantees, hazard bonuses, shift flexibility, and an empathetic communication approach. In sectors like banking, which traditionally resist rapid change, agility became essential, with digital channels and flexible workflows adopted almost overnight.
Leaders invested in holistic care—not just for employees, but their families. COVID testing was extended to households, and leadership visibility increased. Food manufacturing firms supported on-ground staff with meals, transport, medical testing, and in some cases, matched employee donations to aid COVID efforts. A deeper sense of mission and responsibility emerged, driving not just productivity but purpose.
Cross-Sector Collaboration: Health Meets Business
One of the most powerful narratives of the session was the collaborative bridge between healthcare providers and corporations. Hospitals shared SOPs and resources while corporations ensured compliance, continuity, and care. Whether it was in food supply chains, energy production, or financial services, the public and private sectors aligned in unprecedented ways.
Innovation was also deeply behavioral. Some companies tracked health trends through unconventional sources—including graveyard data—to plan contingencies. Attendance systems were upgraded to RFID; communal spaces redesigned; and crisis committees met daily, signaling a new level of operational discipline.
Adapting Operations and Technology
In manufacturing, safety became synonymous with continuity. Biometric systems gave way to smart cards, and random on-site testing became standard. Close collaboration with regulatory bodies and the police ensured smooth audits and compliance checks. Safety certifications were prominently displayed to reassure workers, reinforcing organizational commitment to well-being.
Resilience Redefined
Perhaps the most profound insight was that business continuity isn’t just an IT concern—it’s a human issue. Organizations prioritized medical support, distributed laptops and VPN access, and offered interest-free healthcare loans. Mid-level managers led crisis teams, succession planning was revamped, and cross-functional training was prioritized to build lasting resilience.
This human-centered crisis management redefined leadership during uncertain times. The rigidity of traditional corporate playbooks gave way to empathetic, responsive governance.
The Next Wave: AI-Powered Innovation
Looking forward, panelists agreed the first wave of digital transformation was about reach and process efficiency. The next frontier is autonomous decision-making driven by AI. From predictive maintenance in energy, to diagnostic support in healthcare, to personalization in retail—AI is reshaping strategy and execution.
Crucially, AI is also emerging as a crisis management tool. Computer vision systems can monitor mask compliance and distancing in real-time, triggering instant alerts. Dashboards offer heatmaps for targeted interventions, enabling proactive rather than reactive management.
Leadership in the Age of Reinvention
The Innovation Reset isn’t a one-time pivot—it’s an ongoing recalibration. As digital leaders shared at CXO Leadership Live, surviving the crisis required speed, but thriving beyond it demands trust, agility, and foresight. Technology is a key enabler—but people, purpose, and partnerships will shape the road ahead.
This session underscored one powerful truth: innovation is no longer optional—it’s existential.
