Kindness & Leadership

The business world is quick to celebrate leaders of profitable and productive workplaces. But how often do those celebrations recognise the part played by kindness?

Kindness makes business sense; it impacts outcomes, whether it be productivity, engagement or customer service. People do not forget acts of kindness.

Kind leaders change lives, transform organisations and collaborate. Kind leaders inspire creativity and productivity, share meaningful connections, and give their time so that others can give their best. By empowering others to succeed, kind leaders create an environment for the organisation as a whole to succeed. We need to recognise the contribution of these leaders to business, the economy and society.

"Great leadership usually starts with a willing heart, a positive attitude, and a desire to make a difference."
- Mac Anderson
"In order for companies to improve, the people of the organisation have to become smarter and more resourceful and work together more effectively over time. For this to work, people actually have to care about their work, the company and one another. This requires the expert orchestration of a kind leader."
- William Baker & Michael O’Malley, Leading with Kindness
"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted."
- Aesop
"Kind words can be short and easy to speak, but their echoes are truly endless."
- Mother Teresa

50 Leading Lights

This campaign will showcase 50 leaders building a new status quo, impacting others through kindness. We will share their stories and leadership styles, and the effect they have on their organisation and industries.

We want their stories to inspire others, and to help to recast the perceptions of ‘strong’ leadership. We want kindness to be seen as a strength in leadership, as a quality and a currency that empowers change.

Nominations for the 2024 list are now closed.

We cannot establish a robust list in isolation, from the outside looking in. That is why we need you to share with us stories of those who have impacted you in your career, people who are leading in a creative and different way, with kindness.

We recognise that a kind leader is defined not just by what they say and do, but by how what they say and do effects those around them. As such, each nomination will also need to be supported by two testimonials of support. These testimonials must come from people who have been impacted by the candidate.

Together with the Saïd Business School, University of Oxford, we have explored the characteristics associated with kind leaders, those who are deeply thoughtful of others and show: humanity, generosity and compassion, and are dedicated to supporting the well-being of others and fostering a spirit of collaboration. These are the traits that we will be looking for, within the nomination.

Nominations are open and close on March 28th 2024.  This year’s list will be announced in September 2024.

 

Timeline

Submit your nomination
Submit your nomination
We want to showcase those leading with kindness. We want to share their stories and impact.

Nominations close: March 28th.
Assessment & shortlisting
Assessment & shortlisting
A panel made up of representatives from different industry sectors will review the entries and agree the final list of 50 stories. The 50 successful candidates will be notified and invited to an event in November 2024.
List announcement
List announcement
On September 25th our 50 Leading Lights List will be announced. Those on the list will be invited to a special reception.

2022 Leading Lights

Judging Panel

Bo Zhou
Bo Zhou
Former Partner and Senior Vice President in Asia Pacific Account Management team at IHS Markit
Dr Swati Piramal
Dr Swati Piramal
Vice Chairman, Piramal Industries
HE VICKI TREADELL – CHAIR OF THE PANEL
HE VICKI TREADELL – CHAIR OF THE PANEL
British High Commissioner to Australia
RUPEN DESAI
RUPEN DESAI
Global Chief Marketing Officer, Dole Packaged Foods
HUGH ANDREW
HUGH ANDREW
Managing Director, Blackrock Real Assets
Supported by
Association With
Partners
Supported By
Supported By

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Get in touch

For more info and details on our programmes email us at