Orient Magazine Issue 73 - September 2019 | Page 52

Orient - The Official Magazine of the British Chamber of Commerce Singapore - Issue 73 September 2019

Why I am Searching for Kind Leaders in Southeast Asia
Pinky Lilani, Chairman, Women of the Future Programme
Profitable, powerful, productive… these are words we use to describe leaders, yet we so rarely mention kindness. Indeed, too often we associate kindness with weakness – but nothing could be further from the truth.


As the Founder of the Women of the Future Programme, a range of platforms and initiatives that celebrate some of the most successful women all over the world, I have seen the true power of kindness in business and leadership.
It is not a secret weapon, rather it is the DNA that can transform relationships, impact outcomes (whether productivity, engagement or customer service), and uplift our colleagues and communities. By empowering others to succeed, kind leaders create an environment for organisations as a whole to thrive.
Earlier this year, we hosted a panel discussion on Kindness & Leadership, in partnership with the British Chamber of Commerce in Singapore, where we delved into the economic benefits and business impact of ‘kind’ leadership. Natalie Black, HM Trade Commissioner for Asia Pacific, participated in the panel and emphasised just how often kindness is associated with weakness and yet, in her vast experience, some of the greatest leaders she has worked with are those who, when under intense pressure, still demonstrate kindness.
This is exactly why, in 2019, we want to change the leadership conversation and celebrate 25 kind leaders in Southeast Asia with our 25 Leading Lights Campaign, launched with the support of Asia Square.
I urge you all to get involved with our 25 Leading Lights Campaign, to help change the leadership landscape and question perceptions of ‘strong’ leadership. Nominate a kind leader, someone who is building a new status quo, impacting others through kindness, and let us shine light on the strength of kindness in leadership as a quality and a currency that empowers change.
In a world in which we obsess over statistics, ROI, and are under constant pressure to innovate and adapt, with our time seemingly running faster and faster through the hourglass, kindness has the power to set leaders apart. It surprises; it cuts through traditional boundaries of hierarchy, gender and diversity, and it inspires action.
Since the Women of the Future Programme began in 2006, we have received thousands of nominations and our shortlisted candidates are interviewed extensively. Our nominees come from all walks of life and professions, whether they be CEOs of FTSE 100 companies, scientists who have made life-changing discoveries or ambassadors for mental health reform. Yet each one exemplifies what is possible when kindness is weaved into leadership. We hear over and over again, how our candidates have used it to uplift their teams and give a voice to the voiceless.
I have also seen how kindness begets kindness. For many years now I have invited candidates and their families into my home (I love cooking for others) for a meal shared around my kitchen table. And over the years, I’ve seen how simple gestures like this are reciprocated, how doors leading to new opportunities are opened without ever needing to ask.
As one of my favourite quotes by Cuban actress Hada Bejar puts it so beautifully, “The fragrance always stays in the hand that gives the rose.”