Leaders insist on sticking to the time-tested formulae of either functional leadership that focusses on operational excellence or smart leadership that focusses on growth. When a leader?s focus is too functional, the organization becomes introverted and can focus too much on bottom-line profitability while missing out on top-line growth opportunities. But when leaders focus too much on smart leadership, the organization may experience quick growth but lose its effectiveness quickly. To strike a fine balance between the two from smart to wise provides a fresh and timely approach to nurturing wise, resilient and flexible leadership in a world of growing complexity. Drawing on inspiring real-life stories of historical and contemporary wise leaders such as mahatma gandhi, bill gates and warren buffet, indra nooyi, ratan tata and n. R. Narayana murthy the authors identify six characteristics of wise leaders and offer a practical framework to help readers develop their own style of wise leadership that is both functional and smart.