In the feature, Nitin outlined what defines an exceptional in-house indirect tax leader today:the ability to combine deep technical knowledge with strategic dynamism, moving fluidly between executive-level vision and execution detail as business needs evolve. He pointed to trust and empathy as essential leadership traits, alongside the courage to make difficult decisions on data, operating models, and future skills.

Reflecting on the recognition, Nitin described the award not as an individual achievement, but as a reflection of collective effort — highlighting the trust of leadership, the resilience of cross-border teams, and the growing strategic importance of tax within modern businesses. He emphasised that sustainable transformation is built on systems, culture, and shared ownership, rather than individual expertise alone.

Discussing value creation, Nitin explained that indirect tax leadership begins with clarity on why the function exists and who it serves. From this foundation, value is delivered at multiple levels — through compliance excellence and audit readiness, operational efficiency enabled by automation and data governance, and strategic foresight that turns regulatory mandates such as e-invoicing into broader business opportunities.

The interview also explored the rapid convergence of regulation, technology, and data in indirect tax. With governments accelerating real-time reporting and continuous transaction controls, tax functions are increasingly required to operate with transparency and audit readiness in real time. As a result, tax professionals must become fluent in technology, analytics, and systems architecture, evolving into what Nitin described as “fusion leaders” who can bridge disciplines and orchestrate people, processes, and platforms.

Looking ahead, Nitin shared that his focus remains on scaling impact rather than changing direction — continuing to build future-ready tax teams that are integrated with business strategy, while contributing to the broader profession through thought leadership, mentoring, and his book, Extinction of Tax As We Know It.

He described the next phase of his journey as one centred on enabling others — leaving behind strong foundations on which the next generation of tax leaders can build.