In an increasingly fast-paced, algorithm-driven world, leadership mentor and author Kuruva Venkataramana Murthy is choosing to pause and invite others to do the same. The occasion? The launch of his third book, AI-Driven Leadership: Leading with Dharma in the Age of AI.

But this is not a conventional book launch. There will be no red carpet, no celebrity panel, no keynote spotlight. Instead, what awaits is a full-day storytelling circle an intimate gathering of voices that have lived, questioned, and evolved through Murthy’s work. In doing so, he is not just launching a book, but initiating a conversation. One rooted in reflection, honesty, and shared human experience.

“Before AI leads us,” says Murthy, “we must remember how to lead ourselves.”

And with that, he reframes not only what leadership means, but how it should be celebrated.

A New Kind of Book Launch

Breaking away from corporate formalities and industry protocol, the event scheduled for August 2nd in Hyderabad will unfold over the course of nine hours from 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM not as a sequence of lectures or promotional segments, but as a circle of shared stories.

Attendees aren’t just passive spectators. Those who’ve read Murthy’s books, experienced his coaching, or attended his workshops are encouraged to step forward and speak. Each selected participant will have five minutes on stage not to praise the author, but to share their own transformational insights, moments of confusion, healing, or clarity that emerged through their interaction with his work.

The voices will be diverse corporate leaders, students, social workers, artists, and educators. Their stories will form what Murthy calls a “living archive of leadership transformation,” as each session will be filmed and later released via his digital channels to extend the event’s impact beyond the room.

In an era where launches are often geared toward optics and headlines, Murthy’s event is about depth and belonging.

The Book and Its Message

At the heart of this gathering is AI-Driven Leadership, a timely manifesto on navigating the moral dilemmas and opportunities emerging from artificial intelligence. But Murthy’s take is neither alarmist nor techno-utopian. Instead, he positions AI not as a threat but as a test.

“How do we stay human while building with AI?”

“What does ethical leadership look like in a world ruled by automation?”

These are the central questions the book explores.

Drawing from Indian philosophical traditions, particularly the principle of dharma the right action in context Murthy argues for a model of leadership that is as much inward-looking as it is strategic. His thesis: leadership in the AI era must not be faster, but truer. Not louder, but wiser.

His book emphasizes that the age of data cannot overwrite the timeless need for discernment. And while machine learning may optimize decisions, it cannot substitute the human courage needed to take responsibility, uphold values, or navigate moral grey zones.

A Participatory Gathering

To ensure the authenticity of the event, Murthy has invited his community to contribute proactively. Those who wish to share their stories on stage must RSVP by July 27, 2025, by submitting a short story (maximum 500 words) to venkat@oiustorytelling.com. Only confirmed contributors will receive venue details and the curated schedule in advance.

This gesture of asking attendees to co-create the space, rather than consume it, is in itself a radical move. It emphasizes Murthy’s larger thesis: leadership is not something we observe; it’s something we inhabit.

“This is not about metrics or marketing. It’s about memory,” Murthy shares in a candid note to his readers.

Leadership as Community, Not Status

Murthy’s work has always centered around the power of narrative how the stories we tell ourselves shape how we lead others. In his previous books, INSPIRE IMPACT IGNITE: Leadership is a Story – Not a Title, and his workshops across India, he has consistently emphasized self-inquiry, emotional resilience, and ethical clarity.

Now, with AI-Driven Leadership, he deepens that conversation. By handing the microphone to his readers, he is making a clear statement: leadership is not a platform for the powerful alone, but a path walked by the conscious.

This format also mirrors global shifts in leadership culture. As organizations and institutions seek regenerative, inclusive models, the value of listening, of holding space for vulnerability, and of shared growth has risen to the forefront. Murthy’s event doesn’t just reflect this trend it embodies it.

Final Call: Speak or Listen

Whether you are a leader seeking clarity in the age of chaos, a follower navigating complexity, or simply someone with a story to share this event is a place to belong.

If you’d like to participate, submit your story and RSVP by July 27, 2025, at venkat@oiustorytelling.com.

Because in the end, the true mark of leadership may not lie in how many follow you but in how deeply you’ve heard your own story, and allowed others to tell theirs.