Dr John Robert.
Executive Advisor, Author and Leadership Speaker Dr John Robert launched his new book Beyond Title and unveiled the second edition of Going Beyond Boundaries at Solstice 2026, Ukiyoto Publishing's fifth annual literary conference, held on August 9 at the C.D. Deshmukh Auditorium, India International Centre, New Delhi.
The conference, themed "Mythology & Indian History," brought together authors, readers, academics and publishing professionals for book launches, literary conversations, readings and interactions. The programme featured Guests of Honour Ramesh K. Mittal, President of the Federation of Indian Publishers, and Dr Shrawan K. Sharma, former Visiting Professor at Nalanda University and former Professor of English at Gurukula Kangri University.
For Dr Robert, the event brought together two closely connected ideas about navigating the modern professional world. Going Beyond Boundaries examines resilience and the ability to remain effective through change, while Beyond Title explores how professionals can consciously shape careers that are larger than their current role, organisation or designation.
The first edition of Going Beyond Boundaries attracted readers across multiple countries since its launch. The newly launched second edition carries its central conversation on resilience into the age of artificial intelligence, where technology is rapidly transforming roles, skills and traditional notions of career security.
A significant addition to the new edition is a practical DIY Resilience Check. The self-assessment enables readers to examine their preparedness for disruption, identify areas that may require strengthening and reflect on how effectively they adapt when circumstances change. The book approaches resilience not simply as a motivational concept, but as a professional capability that can be understood, tested and deliberately developed.
The foreword to Going Beyond Boundaries is written by D. Shivakumar, popularly known as Shiv, a respected management thinker and business leader who has held senior leadership positions at organisations including PepsiCo India, Nokia and the Aditya Birla Group.
If Going Beyond Boundaries focuses on navigating change, Beyond Title asks professionals to look more closely at what sustains a career over the long term.
At the heart of the new book is the Career Engine, a self-assessment framework designed to help professionals examine the different elements powering their career. It encourages readers to look beyond titles, tenure and accumulated experience and consider how effectively they are building capabilities, relationships, visibility, professional identity, adaptability and future options.
The book is built around an increasingly relevant question: Who are you professionally when the designation is taken away?
Its central argument is that in a rapidly changing world of work, careers can no longer be expected to progress automatically. Professionals need to take greater ownership of their direction and ensure that their value remains relevant beyond a particular title or employer.
The foreword to Beyond Title is written by Dr Anuraag Guglaani, an international business leader, investor and advisor known for his work with businesses and family enterprises. He is also a Falcon on Falcons of Majlis, the UAE startup funding platform.
Speaking at Solstice, Dr Robert reflected on how artificial intelligence, changing organisational structures and new models of work are altering the relationship professionals have with their careers. He spoke about the need for continuous learning, adaptability and building a professional identity that extends beyond any single designation.
The conversation also touched upon an area that has increasingly interested him: the role of culture in shaping a professional.
Drawing on decades of working across countries and organisations, Dr Robert reflected on how workplace environments influence behaviour, confidence, leadership styles, decision-making and even the way people perceive their own potential. Skills and qualifications may determine what a professional can do, but culture can quietly influence how that capability is expressed, rewarded or constrained.
He indicated that he would like, over time, to share more of his learnings and perspectives on the relationship between culture, careers and professional identity, drawing from the varied organisational environments he has encountered through his global experience.
The launch concluded with guests interacting with Dr Robert and collecting signed copies of his books. Beyond Title and the second edition of Going Beyond Boundaries are now available on Amazon, Flipkart, Ukiyoto and other leading e-commerce platforms.
