Battlefield to Boardroom: Mapping Transitional Competencies of Indian Defense Veterans for Corporate Success
Published: 2026
Author(s) Name: Shobhanam Krishna, Rohit Dwivedi and Ashutosh Bishnu Murti |
Author(s) Affiliation: Indian Institute of Management, Shillong, Meghalaya.
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Abstract
In India, nearly 60,000 officers retire annually at the peak professional maturity. This study investigates competencies developed in service, their activation during transition, and their significance for corporate success. Based on in-depth interviews with 27 veterans, a thematic analysis was undertaken, and the Iceberg Model was employed to categorize competencies
as core, supporting, or peripheral. Core attributes such as integrity and leadership are highly transferable; supporting attributes like emotional intelligence and communication require adaptation; and peripheral attributes such as logistics and global awareness enhance operational agility. These are interpreted as indicative themes rather than validated differentiators. The study maps defense and corporate domains in the Indian context and proposes a Transitional Competency Framework to inform future research and practice.
Keywords: N.A.
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