'People don’t fail, leaders do': Snapdeal co-founder on the power of good management

As of 2024, Kunal Bahl’s estimated net worth stood at Rs 3,500 crore.

A capable and supportive manager could transform an average team into a high-performing powerhouse, Indian entrepreneur Kunal Bahl observed recently. Emphasising the crucial role of leadership in shaping team dynamics and individual success, Bahl warned that while good leadership inspires and energises, poor management can sap even the most ambitious employees of their drive.

Taking to social media platform X, the co-founder of Snapdeal and prominent investor reflected on how leadership directly affects employee engagement and long-term commitment.

“A great manager can turn good people into stars who are high-performing, energetic, loyal, and long-tenured,” Bahl wrote. “A bad manager? They can take talented, driven folks and drain them into sluggish, excuse-making underperformers. People don’t fail. Poor leadership does…”

The stark contrast between good and bad management, Bahl suggested, could determine whether an organisation thrives or suffers from low morale and attrition. He noted that effective leadership did not merely guide but also inspired teams, fostering a culture of motivation and accountability. When leadership was lacking, even skilled and passionate employees might begin to underperform, disengage, or eventually exit the company.

A great manager can turn good people into stars who are high-performing, energetic, loyal, long-tenure.

A bad manager? They can take talented, driven folks and drain them into sluggish, excuse-making underperformers. People don’t fail. Poor leadership does. Lead better. Or… — Kunal Bahl (@1kunalbahl) July 25, 2025

His remarks struck a chord across professional networks, echoing the sentiment that talent alone was insufficient without proper mentorship and direction. “Strong leadership doesn’t just guide employees—it inspires loyalty, energizes individuals, and fosters long-term commitment,” Bahl noted. He pointed out that a manager with the right attitude and skill set could shape average professionals into consistently successful contributors.

In contrast, he said, ineffective supervision often resulted in missed targets and deteriorating output. “When leaders fail to guide, recognize, or empower their teams, it often leads to demotivation,” he said. Talented employees, he added, could end up making excuses or disengaging—not because they lacked ability, but because they were not led well.

The core takeaway from Bahl’s reflections was unequivocal: many employee failures could be traced back to managerial shortcomings. Organisations that neglected the importance of effective leadership, he argued, risked not only reduced productivity but also the departure of their most capable staff.

Bahl’s professional journey lends significant weight to his observations. Best known as the co-founder of Indian e-commerce platform Snapdeal, launched in 2010, he has played a central role in shaping the online retail space in the country. Over the years, Snapdeal evolved into AceVector, a broader business group that includes subsidiaries such as Unicommerce and Stellaro Brands.

Unicommerce, the group’s software-as-a-service (SaaS) arm, went public in 2024 with one of the year’s most oversubscribed initial public offerings (IPOs). The listing drew widespread investor interest, further cementing Bahl’s reputation as a successful entrepreneur and strategist.

Beyond AceVector, Bahl also co-founded Titan Capital, a venture capital firm focused on early-stage startups. Titan Capital has built a strong investment portfolio across Indian startups, backing major names such as Ola, Razorpay, Mamaearth, Urban Company, and Giva. Several of these investments have yielded extraordinary returns—more than 100 times the original amount, in some cases.

As of 2024, Bahl’s estimated net worth stood at Rs 3,500 crore, according to Financial Express. He also appeared as a judge on "Shark Tank India", where he evaluated and mentored aspiring entrepreneurs.