(L-R): Dr Nimalya Bagchi, Mr Sada Sivan, Dr PV Ramesh and Shri Padmanabhaiah
Hyderabad, September 10, 2026: The ASCI School of Management, Administrative Staff College of India (ASCI), Hyderabad, hosted a public lecture by Mr. Viswa Sadasivan, Nominated Member of Parliament in Singapore and Founder & Managing Consultant of Strategic Moves, on the theme “Singapore Miracle – Lessons in Leadership” as part of its Public Lecture Series.
Mr. Sadasivan spoke about Singapore’s transformation since independence and the leadership choices that shaped its development. Drawing on his personal experiences in public life, media and the Singapore Armed Forces, he discussed how leadership, social cohesion and pragmatic decision-making contributed to the country’s progress.
He identified five broad pillars of Singapore’s nation-building experience—multiracialism, public housing, national security, economic philosophy and political pragmatism. He said Singapore’s approach was to recognise and manage differences among communities while maintaining a strong emphasis on self-reliance, merit and national interest.
Reflecting on the leadership of Singapore’s founding Prime Minister, the late Lee Kuan Yew, Mr. Sadasivan said that pragmatism often meant taking decisions based on what worked for the country rather than following rigid ideological positions. He also spoke about the importance of trust in governance and of leaders delivering on commitments made to citizens.
Mr. Viswa Sadasivan
Sharing some personal experiences, Mr. Sadasivan spoke about his father’s migration to Singapore in 1938 and the values of community support that shaped his own approach to public service. He also recalled his four decades in the Singapore Armed Forces and said that National Service brought people from different racial, religious and economic backgrounds together, giving him valuable lessons in leadership and social cohesion.
Mr. Viswa Sadasivan & Dr P V Ramesh
The lecture was followed by an interactive question-and-answer session. Summing up the discussion, Dr. P. V. Ramesh highlighted the importance of resilience, authenticity, ethical conduct and the ability to accept criticism and learn from it.
The programme was attended by faculty members, students and invited guests. Shri K. Padmanabhaiah, IAS (Retd.), Chairman, Court of Governors, ASCI, delivered the opening remarks. Dr. Nirmalya Bagchi, Dean, ASCI School of Management, welcomed the gathering and proposed the vote of thanks.