Name: Resilience Under Pressure – Leading Through Challenge (AMER)
Start: 2026-02-10T16:00:00+00:00
End: 2026-02-10T17:15:00+00:00

AMER

WeQual Rising Leaders: Resilience Under Pressure – Leading Through Challenge

Pressure is now part of every leader’s daily reality. Strong leadership in these moments begins with the internal systems that help you stay steady, self-aware, and grounded. This session gives Rising Leaders a practical way to strengthen those inner foundations so you can lead with composure when challenges intensify.

This Leadership Insights session focuses on what it truly means to lead when circumstances are demanding, expectations are high, and teams look to you for steadiness. Rising Leaders often carry significant delivery pressure while navigating complex environments. This conversation builds your internal leadership capacity — helping you understand how your mindset, triggers, and energy patterns shape your ability to respond effectively.

Together, we’ll explore the internal habits that help leaders stay centered, make decisions with intent, and recover quickly after high-pressuring moments. Using real-world examples, we’ll explore strategies for maintaining clarity even when information is incomplete, and how to create psychological steadiness for yourself and your team. You’ll hear lived leadership experiences; with practical strategies you can apply immediately to your role.

Ram Parasuraman — Executive Director, Data Resiliency, IBM.

Ram has built and scaled products across cloud infrastructure, AI-powered security, networking, DevOps, and storage. His track record in high-pressure innovation environments — from startups to global enterprise — offers Rising Leaders clear insight into how internal resilience supports experimentation, rapid decision-making, and disciplined execution.

Takeaways:

Strengthen internal resilience systems
Recognize triggers and stay centred
Make clear decisions in complexity
Build team confidence
Sustain energy and focus

Ram Parasuraman

IBM

Executive Director, Data Resiliency

Ram has spent two decades delivering innovative products across cloud infrastructure, AI-powered security, networking, DevOps, and storage. Known as a fire-starter and builder, he has worked across all market segments and routes to market, shaping products at the cutting edge of enterprise technology.

Ram’s career spans high-growth startups through to global enterprise. He was Head of Products at Cohesity, where he scaled its SaaS business and launched platforms including Helios and Data Hawk for AI-powered governance. He was the first product leader at Aviatrix, driving disruptive cloud networking innovation, and earlier founded the cloud infrastructure and SaaS businesses at Riverbed, a leader in application performance optimization.

He holds an MS in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Purdue University and an MBA from Instituto de Empresa. Ram also advises early-stage founders in FinOps, DevSecOps, AI, and crypto, and serves on the boards of non-profits supporting neurodiverse children. Outside of work, he enjoys running, writing, tutoring kids, and arcade gaming with his children.

Emma Hicks

WeQual

SVP, Product & Learning

Emma is an experienced strategic leader specializing in professional development at
C-suite and senior management levels. With over 20 years’ experience across global sectors, she brings deep expertise in leadership education and a genuine passion for continuous professional growth.

A Fellow and Advisory Board Member of the Learning and Performance Institute (LPI), Emma also holds certifications from the Institute of Directors (IoD) and the Association for Talent Development (ATD) and previously served on the Education Committee of the European Confederation of Directors Associations (ecoDa).

Before joining WeQual, Emma spent nearly a decade with the IoD, shaping the strategic direction of its global executive programs, including the prestigious Chartered Director qualification. She later joined HR technology company Connectr, first as interim COO and then as Chief Commercial Officer, leading its mission to build more inclusive leadership pipelines.

Earlier in her career, Emma held senior roles with Reed Learning, designing and delivering internationally recognized qualifications for more than 100 corporate and academic partners.

At WeQual, Emma leads the global membership and program function. Creating communities where senior leaders connect, reflect, and develop through shared experience. Her work aligns with her core purpose: Helping individuals achieve their career goals and enabling organizations to succeed through inclusive, effective leadership.

Outside of work, Emma has a young family — Joshua (10), Jasmine (7), and Monty the cockapoo (3) — who keep her active, grounded, and grateful.

Ovin Mohan

WeQual

Director of Leadership Development

Ovin has coached more than 1,000 senior leaders from the world’s largest organizations – from Apple and HSBC to NATO and Christie’s – helping them lead with clarity, confidence, and renewed focus. Known by clients as “exceptional”, “brilliant”, and “amazing”, his coaching is both challenging and deeply human.

A former athlete and Head of Leadership Development in the UK’s largest management institute, Ovin combines performance psychology with practical leadership habits that drive real results. He’s lived and worked across London, Chicago, New York, and Valencia, bringing a global perspective to every conversation.

In this session, Ovin helps leaders step back from constant delivery to reconnect with their purpose and priorities – a vital reset for sustained impact.