Strong and Kind: Why Today’s Most Effective Leaders Embrace Both
In today’s fast-moving, ever-shifting world, leadership isn’t just about setting direction, it’s about creating connection. As we navigate economic uncertainty, technological disruption, and cultural transformation, the leaders who rise to the moment are those who lead with both strength and kindness.
Throughout my journey, I’ve seen the power of balancing strength and kindness in leadership. Whether it was transforming early-stage startups into $7M+ pipeline generators, leading growth initiatives in regulated industries, or scaling high-performing teams in times of rapid change, I’ve learned that while resilience, strategy, and decisiveness are crucial, the most impactful outcomes are always rooted in something more personal: empathy, care, and courage. For instance, when faced with a challenging decision, I’ve found that a kind approach, such as listening to all perspectives, can lead to a stronger, more united team. This balance is not a sign of weakness, but a demonstration of true leadership strength.
Kindness Is Not a Weakness—It’s a Leadership Strength
For too long, traditional leadership has framed kindness as a soft quality. But let’s be clear: kindness requires strength. It takes courage to listen deeply, to meet people where they are, and to show vulnerability without losing clarity. And in times of ambiguity, kindness becomes the glue that holds teams together and keeps them engaged.
Leadership today demands we “don’t just hear, but truly listen.” This is especially vital when guiding teams through transformation. At Babylon Health, for example, building a field marketing team from scratch required not only a strategic approach but also a human-first approach to engagement. This approach involves understanding the unique needs and motivations of each team member, and creating an environment where they feel seen, heard, and empowered. The result? A 9% increase in activations in just 90 days—because people felt seen, heard, and empowered.
The Power of Purpose, Culture, and Curiosity
Leaders and innovators across many industries remind us that effective leadership begins with a clear purpose. Submitting a 100-day plan before accepting a role, as a mentor of mine once did, isn’t just bold; it’s strategic alignment in action. That same spirit of intentionality is what I bring into every role: a commitment to transforming complexity into clarity, aligning vision with execution, and building culture alongside strategy.
When culture, purpose, and passion fuel leadership, teams take risks, experiment, and grow. Giving people permission to fail, iterate, and evolve isn’t just a business tactic; it’s a human investment. At Eskalera, aligning four co-founders around a shared vision led to the development of a powerful DEI platform, with zero paid spend and a $7M+ pipeline to show for it.
Leading Through Uncertainty Requires Heart and Hustle
In uncertain times, the best leaders don’t just provide direction, they also provide stability. They help teams “find joy in uncertainty” while relentlessly focusing on what matters most: the project, the goal, the priority. It’s about helping people hold onto their humanity while still moving the business forward.
This is where the balance of empathy and structure becomes a superpower. I’ve built GTM engines from scratch, led multimillion-dollar campaigns across 10+ channels, and scaled brand operations within Fortune 100 enterprises. But none of that happens in a vacuum; it’s built on trust, communication, and a shared belief in something greater. Empathy is the key that unlocks understanding and value in leadership.
Curiosity, Courage, and the Invitation to Grow
Today’s leaders must remain curious. We must fall in love with our customers’ problems, lean into new technologies like GenAI, and create space for cross-functional teams to test, learn, and iterate. The doors we walk through—success or setback—always swing two ways. Growth lives on both sides. As we lead with strength and kindness, we also grow personally, becoming better leaders and better people.
And leadership is no different. Our most significant impact as leaders is not in being the smartest person in the room, but in creating the kind of room where everyone’s voice matters. That’s how we build trust. That’s how we scale momentum. And that’s how we leave a lasting legacy. By fostering a supportive environment, we can ensure our teams feel secure and confident in their roles, knowing that their contributions are valued and their growth is supported.
Final Thought: Leadership with Impact and Intention
Strong leaders create vision. Kind leaders develop connections. The best leaders do both.
If we want to navigate transformation with clarity, elevate teams with empathy, and drive growth with intention, we must embrace leadership that is both strong and kind, fierce in our focus, but human in our approach.Let’s lead with both. The future demands it.