Kully Thandi

I grew up the child of Panjabi immigrants in the UK, educated at an inner city comprehensive. My parents came with little more than determination and a belief that education could change everything. They were right – and everything I have built stands on that foundation.

I went on to read Law at Cambridge. There was no template for that journey. No map, no mentor, no one who had walked that path before me. But I carried something that never wavered – a quiet belief that I could do anything. Not loudly. Not defiantly. Just a certainty, deep down, that the destination was never in question.

That belief shaped everything about how I lead. It taught me that trust is everything. That people can surprise themselves when someone believes in them. And that the most important thing a leader can do is make space for others to find that same quiet certainty in themselves.

Because someone did that for me once. And I have never forgotten it.

Today I serve as Global General Counsel at Allianz Technology, advising multinational Boards and Executive Committees across 25 years of international experience. I align legal strategy with business objectives, balance growth with governance and lead a team named finalist for In-house Team of the Year at the Legal 500 Germany Awards in 2024 and 2026. I have been recognised on the Legal 500 Germany GC Powerlist in 2023, 2025 and 2026 – not a moment, but a body of work.

I believe the modern General Counsel must be both guardian and enabler – protecting integrity while removing obstacles to growth, translating legal complexity into commercial clarity. I also serve as Chair of a Supervisory Board, keeping me grounded in fiduciary responsibility and commercial reality.

I advocate passionately for social mobility and believe the strongest organisations are built on meritocracy. I mentor the next generation – particularly those navigating without a roadmap – because someone has to show them the door is open. That matters to me personally. Not as a policy position. But because I know what it feels like to stand at that door wondering if it was meant for someone like me.

All of that shows up in how I work every day:

Strategic Advisory – ensuring the legal function is a genuine partner in commercial success, integrating insight early and supporting long-term goals.

AI Enablement & Innovation – committed to responsible AI integration to enhance efficiency, accelerate decision-making and support digital transformation.

Collaborative Leadership – building high-performing, high-trust teams with a business-owner mindset.