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Dhruv Bhalla, Head–Corporate Affairs, Kanoria Foundation, shares insights on authenticity, purpose, and building brand resilience in a digital era.

As brands navigate shrinking atten-tion spans and rising scrutiny, Dhruv Bhalla, Head – Corporate Affairs, Kanoria Foundation, shares his insights on the evolving role of communications. With global stints at PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG, Bhalla blends Western precision with Indian insight. In this conversation, he reflects on his journey, mentors, and the art of building resilient brands.

Q1. You’ve worked with three of the four Big Four consulting firms PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG as well as several global institutions. And now you are closely associated with one of India’s most respected family-run organizations. How have these diverse experiences shaped your approach to strategy and communications?

A. Each of these experiences has influenced me in a distinct way. Working with PwC, Deloitte, and KPMG exposed me to global best practices the precision of structured thinking, data-driven strategy, and the discipline of execution. It taught me how to see the bigger picture while still paying attention to the smallest detail because that’s often where the real

story lies. Spanning global institutions to a family-run business, the Kanoria Foundation introduced a distinct and transformative dimension. At KF, the focus wasn’t just on numbers or frameworks;

it was on purpose, empathy, and impact. Working with Mr. Hemant Kanoria for nearly fifteen years, I saw how a dream could be turned into reality, how infrastructure, finance, and social initiatives could come together to touch millions of lives. That experience grounded me; it reminded me that strategy isn’t just about growth, it’s about meaning. When I connect the analytical precision of consulting with the human depth of a purpose-driven institution, my approach to communication becomes truly holistic. It’s about clarity, but also about emotion. It’s about aligning business goals with human stories.

Q2. Who has been your biggest mentor or influence, and what’s the most valuable lesson you’ve carried forward?

A. I have been fortunate to have two major influences who’ve shaped not just my career, but the way I see life. The first is my father, Anil Bhalla. He is a war hero, having fought in the Indo-Pak war, and then went on to reinvent himself entirely  first as a model in Mumbai in the early ’70s, and later as a successful businessman. What I’ve learned from him is courage, the courage to keep evolving, to take risks, and to never be afraid of change. His life has always been a reminder that discipline and dreams can coexist.

The second influence is Hemant Kanoria, the founder and former chairman of Srei Infrastructure, with whom I’ve had the privilege of working closely for over fifteen years. He has profoundly shaped the way I think about entrepreneurship, purpose, and resilience. Watching him build, scale, and navigate through multiple economic and policy cycles  with unwavering faith and composure has been one of the most valuable lessons of my career.

Q3. How can brands move from storytelling to story-living in today’s skeptical, short-attention world?

Today, authenticity is the new currency of trust. Brands can no longer just tell stories they must live them through actions, experiences, and culture. Story-living happens when a brand’s promise is visible in its people, products, and purpose. It’s about consistency between what is said and what is done. Whether it’s sustainability, inclusion, or customer centricity, every touch point must reinforce the same truth. In an era of skepticism, transparency and participation create the emotional credibility that storytelling alone can’t achieve

Q4. What trends will define the next decade of branding  data, purpose, or something else?

A. The next decade will be defined by humanized intelligencea blend of data, purpose, and empathy. Data will drive precision, but purpose will drive meaning. Technology will amplify reach, but trust will anchor loyalty. Consumers are gravitating toward brands that not only personalize experiences but also stand for something bigger. The real differentiator will be authentic purpose at scale brands that use insights not just to sell better, but to serve better.

Q5. How can leaders build reputation resilience in an era of digital outrage and constant scrutiny?

A. Reputation resilience today is less about crisis management and more about trust-building. In a world where outrage trends in minutes, leaders who communicate with authenticity, empathy, and speed stand out.

Authenticity is vital audiences detect scripted responses instantly. Brands like Johnson & Johnson, Starbucks, and India’s Tata Group rebuilt or sustained trust by owning up and aligning actions with values. Agility with accountability is next. Leaders such as Satya Nadella and Tim Cook show how real-time, human communication strengthens credibility.

Finally, true reputation begins within. Companies like Infosys and Mahindra Group prove that when internal culture reflects purpose, external trust follows naturally.