About Amit Dabas
My service record, career and the convictions behind my work.
Recognition and qualifications
- Yudh Seva Medal
- ASIS International CPP
- ASIS International PCI
- ASIS International PSP
- Aviation-security qualifications
- Crime-prevention qualifications
- Senior military command and staff education
- Postgraduate study in political science, defence and strategic studies
Biography
I served 24 years in the Indian Army, much of it with the Special Forces, including operational deployments and command of a specialist battalion in Kashmir. My service also covered strategic planning, capability development and defence diplomacy, and I taught at the Defence Services Staff College.
After the Army, I moved into senior corporate leadership with the Adani Group and The Indian Hotels Company Limited, across airports, hospitality, real estate, data centres and infrastructure. The work brought security, safety, risk, resilience, loss prevention and technology into enterprise leadership: clarifying governance, strengthening accountability and making risk visible to the people who decide.
I now write and speak about leadership, judgement and the behaviour that shapes organisational outcomes. My manuscript in progress, The Blind Spot of Winning, examines how success can weaken the scrutiny that made it possible.
Career
1996–2019
Indian Army
Military command, Special Forces, operational leadership, strategic planning, defence diplomacy and higher professional military education. The experience developed an approach grounded in mission clarity, preparedness, disciplined initiative, team cohesion and the ability to exercise judgement when information remains incomplete.
2019–2022
Adani Group
Senior responsibilities in security, automation and loss prevention across aviation and diversified business environments. The work combined the integration of dispersed operations, protective technologies, governance, crisis arrangements, regulatory engagement and commercial accountability.
From 2022
The Indian Hotels Company Limited
Enterprise leadership in brand protection, security, safety and resilience across a multi-brand hospitality portfolio. The mandate brought together governance, assurance, fire and life safety, crisis management, continuity, digital transformation and organisational capability in a complex service environment.
Leadership convictions
Enterprise before function
Business leaders own the risks in their decisions. Specialist functions supply the standards, evidence, challenge and timely escalation.
Preparation enables adaptability
Preparation builds the people, routines and judgement that still work when assumptions break.
Challenge is a responsibility
Dissent and early reporting make institutions safer. The most dangerous culture rewards agreement and hides weak signals.
Technology must earn its place
A platform, algorithm or dashboard is worth having only when it improves a real decision, workflow or outcome.
Success needs scrutiny
Examine victories with almost the same discipline as failures.
Veterans' transition
I contribute to the professional development of veterans moving into civilian careers, from employability and qualifications to professional identity and workplace readiness. Individual mentoring requests are considered subject to availability.