Inside the Future: A Conversation on Leadership & Teams

As 2025 approaches, every industry seems to be circling around the same conversations — conscious growth, meaningful branding, community-first experiences, and businesses that stand for more than just profits. From fashion and culture to food, hospitality, and storytelling, the focus is shifting toward authenticity, collaboration, and impact-driven narratives. Mauve has been actively working within this evolving space, building platforms that don’t just follow trends but shape conversations — bringing together creativity, culture, and commerce in ways that feel relevant, intentional, and future-ready.

In conversation with Mauve, Nihar Kolapkar, Co-founder at Wit & Chai Group, reflects on the future of leadership, evolving team dynamics, and the internal transformations shaping organisations as they move toward 2026. From how team structures are being reimagined to the skills leaders must cultivate to stay relevant, this conversation explores what it truly takes to build resilient, people-first businesses in an ever-changing industry.

How will team structures evolve in your industry by 2026?

By 2026, the most successful agencies will operate more like ecosystems than hierarchies. The idea of fixed teams or rigid departments will dissolve replaced by dynamic, purpose-built clusters that bring together strategy, creativity, and technology. I see AI playing a vital role in this evolution not as a replacement, but as an enabler that amplifies human capability. At Wit and Chai Group, we’re building toward that hybrid model — where data intelligence and creative intuition coexist, allowing teams to be more efficient, agile, and deeply collaborative. The future of team structures lies in fluidity and shared ownership, not titles and silos.

 What skill will be most crucial for leaders in 2026?

The ability to lead with clarity in a tech-driven, emotionally complex environment. As AI becomes deeply embedded in how we work, leaders will have to balance logic with empathy making space for innovation without losing the human touch. Emotional intelligence will be the differentiator; leaders who can inspire trust, nurture curiosity, and help teams navigate ambiguity will define the next generation of leadership. Technology will continue to evolve but people will always look to leaders for purpose and direction.

 What is the biggest internal shift your organisation is preparing for in 2026?

We’re preparing for a cultural and operational shift from being a creative agency to becoming a hybrid collective. At Wit and Chai Group, we’re integrating AI capabilities into how we think, create, and deliver ensuring that machines handle efficiency while humans focus on empathy and imagination. It’s about creating a system where creativity is data-informed, not data-defined. The goal is to build an environment that’s faster, smarter, and yet deeply human at its core one that can scale ideas, not just outputs.

This conversation has been thoughtfully curated and conducted by Khizra Khan, bringing together insights on leadership, organisational growth, and the shifts that will define how teams think, work, and lead in the years ahead.