Harsha Razdan on Reinventing Dentsu, Leading with Context, and Being a “Trailing Spouse” at Unilever

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From consulting to advertising, Harsha Razdan’s journey to becoming CEO of Dentsu India wasn’t traditional—but it was intentional. In an interview with Storyboard18, Razdan spoke candidly about leadership, reinvention, and the personal lens he brings to transformation—especially as the “Unilever trailing spouse,” a moniker he wears with pride.

Razdan took over as CEO of Dentsu India with a clear mandate: rebuild trust, realign operations, and unlock creative and business potential. Having previously led consumer industries at KPMG and helmed strategy at Unilever, he brings an outsider’s curiosity and an insider’s precision to the advertising world.

“Leadership is about context,” Razdan says. “If you don’t understand the underlying dynamics—people, clients, pressure points—you can’t shape outcomes.” His approach is shaped as much by personal observation as by professional frameworks. He cites his wife’s Unilever journey as a powerful parallel and often describes himself jokingly as the “trailing spouse”—a nod to how shared ambition drives joint progress.

Under his leadership, Dentsu is focusing on simplifying structures, rebuilding team morale, and shedding the remnants of legacy silos. “We’re not just fixing what was broken,” he notes, “we’re designing for what’s next.” Razdan is also a vocal proponent of embracing humility in high-stakes roles. “You don’t have to be the loudest voice in the room to drive impact,” he adds.

“You can’t apply one-size-fits-all leadership. You have to lead with context. Every market, every team, every moment demands its own lens.”

As Dentsu looks to reclaim its momentum, Razdan’s leadership philosophy blends introspection with business acuity—reminding the industry that transformation starts with self-awareness, not slogans.