E KIND L H T E
OLUTION EV
ERSHIP R D A KINDNESS & LEADERSHIP
LEADING LIGHTS
We encourage the leaders of today and tomorrow, no matter their role or background, to
#LeadWithKindness 2026 CAMPAIGN
kindnessrules_ @KindnessRules kindnessrules.co.uk
OUR SPONSORS & PARTNERS
PINKY LILANI CBE DL FOUNDER, KINDNESS & LEADERSHIP: 50 LEADING LIGHTS
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Welcome to this celebration of kindness in leadership. When we launched the Kindness & Leadership: 50 Leading Lights campaign eight years ago, the idea of kindness as a leadership strength was still met with some scepticism. We set out to challenge the perception that kindness was somehow ‘soft’, and to shine a light on leaders demonstrating that empathy, courage and compassion can sit at the heart of strong, impactful leadership. Eight years on, our remarkable listees continue to show us what this looks like in practice. It is a great honour to celebrate our 2026 United Kingdom and Asia Pacific Leading Lights, in association with Capital One and Asia Square, and recognise the men and women creating positive change across organisations, industries and communities throughout the region. This booklet brings together their stories, experiences and practical insights, with ideas we hope will inspire us all to embed kindness more consciously into the way we lead. A heartfelt thank you to our sponsors, supporters and everyone who has made this campaign possible. Most importantly, congratulations to our 2026 Leading Lights. May their stories inspire us to see kindness not simply as a value, but as a powerful force for better leadership and lasting impact.”
OUR MISSION
What’s the Campaign? Our Kindness & Leadership, 50 Leading Lights campaign seeks to shine a great big spotlight on leaders who are impacting others through kindness. We see this campaign as a unique chance to build a new status quo, sharing advice and expertise from leaders and recognising the contribution of kind leaders to business, the economy, and society.
What’s the Vision? With this relentless backdrop of uncertainty, kindness in leadership has never been more important. This campaign and the network of leaders it enables, have the collective power to keep challenging the definition of leadership and championing positive change.
What’s the Goal? To radically challenge the global leadership conversation by placing a spotlight on leaders around the world who are using the power of kindness to make a massive impact in business and to empower change. Our campaign places kindness firmly at the centre of any leadership debate and encourages us all, no matter our role or background, to
#LeadWithKindness
Hear from the Chairs of the Judging Panels PRINCESS BADIYA BINT EL HASSAN
ALEXANDRA MCKENZIE
UK
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Leading with kindness is empowering. Kind leaders do not avoid difficult conversations or tough decisions. The consideration and care that kind leaders show their colleagues and employees motivates them and creates a culture of trust and collaboration that is deeply productive. The 50 Leading Lights show that strength and compassion are part and parcel of successful leadership. It is a privilege to support this inspiring campaign.
HEAD OF NORTHERN EUROPE DEPARTMENT, COMMONWEALTH AND DEVELOPMENT OFFICE APAC
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There could be no higher commendation than making the list for Kindness and Leadership: success at the top levels of industry, government, the arts and civil society is most valuable when it makes others succeed too. These listees show how generosity of spirit, mentorship, compassion and care can be an integral part of brilliant leadership, positively impacting on business outcomes as well as the people around them. Leaders who role model kindness in leadership will create organisations that thrive through motivated, supportive, collaborative teams that get the best out of people. And kindness is infectious: a kind act lifts your day and inspires you to do a kind service for another. This listing reminds us to notice the things that matter, and to recognise the people that make the effort every day to make other people feel like they matter too.
UK LISTEES 2026 Amy Nicholas, Director, Morgan’s Butchery Ltd
Flavia Popescu, Founder & CEO, The Manor of Oak
Anne-Marie McBrien, Director of Faculty Services, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford
Gillian Sandstrom, Associate Professor in the Psychology of Kindness, University of Sussex
Bamidele Farinre, Agile Project Manager, Openclassrooms
Hayley Roffey, Co-CEO, Global Fund for Children
Carien van der Hoop, Global Lead, OTC Infrastructure, London Stock Exchange Group (LSEG)
Isaac Samuels, Head of Partnerships, Campaigns & Influence, People’s Voice Media
Carolyn Pepper, Partner, Reed Smith LLP
Jacqueline Johnston-Fisher, Head of Services DJK House, Vitality Homes
Cathy Ellott, Head of Streatham & Clapham High School, GDST
Jenni Dunman, Founder & CEO, Daisy First Aid
Charlene Braithwaite, Student Disability & Wellbeing Officer, London College of Contemporary Music (LCCM)
Jenny Barron, Director, EY
Christina Dymioti, Founder, Fashion Heritage Network Cyprus Christopher Box, Global Relationships Partner, PwC Darren Hopgood, Youth Football Coach, Harwell & Hendred Youth Football Club Dex Hunter-Torricke, President, The Center for Tomorrow Dr James Punch, Positive Behaviour Support Lead, IBC Healthcare Dr Nitha Naqvi, Consultant Paediatric Cardiologist, Royal Brompton Hospital & Evelina London Children’s Hospital part of GSTT (Guy’s and St Thomas’s NHS Foundation Trust) Dr Samreen Ashraf, Associate Head of Business School, Bournemouth University Edward Brooks, Executive Director, The Oxford Character Project Fareeha Zeshan, Chief Empowerment Officer, Million Smiles Global Fiona Severs, Director of Community, Keystone Law
Jo Middleton, Director, International Institute for Canine Ethics Julie Stephens, People Director, UK Insurance and Functions, Bupa Katerina Chantzi, Facilitator & Organisational Development/ Learning & Development Consultant Kimberley Canning, Employee Experience Lead UK & IRE, Teleperformance (TP)
Promila Raina, Youth Engagement Manager, Essex Cricket Ramsha Shahid, Partner, Privity Legal Rebecca Henley, Senior Campaign Manager, Saïd Business School, University of Oxford Roo Begom, Director, Committed Support Roxanne Potts, Chief Partnerships Officer, Inner Spark, Goyal Foundation Sana Kardar, Biomedical Scientist and Policy Innovator, House of Commons Sandra Wiggins, Founder & Co CEO, Women on Boards CIC Sasha Samjic, Director and Therapeutic Lead, First Steps Care Serene Singh, Welfare Officer, St Peter’s College, University of Oxford Sharon Butler, Global Head of HR, Onnec Surosh Azizi, Head of Finance, Gailarde
Koyesha Mukherjee, Founder and CEO, The Leading You(n)th
Susie Ma, Founder and CEO, Tropic
Nathan Atkinson, Co-Founder, Rethink Food CIC
Tessa Baker, Professor of Cosmology, Institute of Cosmology and Gravitation, University of Portsmouth
Nevelina Aleksandrova, Lead Engineer, Public Library of Science (PLOS) Nicola Rollock, Professor of Social Policy & Race, King’s College London and Director of NIANRO Consulting Nicole Knott, Partner, PwC UK Pam Ledward, Director for Social Care Practice, Family Rights Group Payal Walker, Founder & Co CEO, Women on Boards CIC
Tyler Hinkson, Partnership & Development Lead, TRIYBE Vince Pizzoni, Associate Professor, University of Nottingham
APAC LISTEES 2026 Abaida Mahmood, CEO, Qurban & Surraya Educational Foundation (formerly known as Qurban & Surraya Educational Trust) (Pakistan) Abdullah Al Jannath Newaz (Antu), Assistant Engineering Officer, Essential Drugs Company Ltd (Bangladesh) Aditi Ghosh, Country Director, ChildFund International (Sri Lanka) Allan Ward, Director of Admissions, Dwight School Seoul (South Korea) Amna Hassan, CEO, Alif Laila Book Bus Society (Pakistan) Ananya Sagar, Founder, Lex Lumina (India) Anne Tonkin, Lecturer and Disability Advocate, TAFE SA (Australia) Arjuna Keshvani-Ham, Foreign Correspondent, The Times (India) Arun Daniel Kumar Yellamaty, Founder & Director, Youngistaan Foundation (India) Bahar Kumar, Co- Founder, Impact Hub Kathmandu (Nepal) Baintan Ampatuan, Member of Parliament, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (Philippines) Sir Dr Billy Chan, Director, Centre for Education in Medical Simulation, Macau University of Science and Technology (China) Brad Ambridge, Director, Rainbow Roos AU Inc (Australia) Brett White, Founder, Be Leaders (Australia) Chaminda Fernandopulle, Executive Director, Kansarmen SL Foundation (Sri Lanka) David Choo, Curator, Urban Planning Engineer & Community Architect, TEDxSeoul (South Korea) Hon Dayang Iman Sahali, Vice Mayor, Municipality of Panglima Sugala (Philippines)
Dhara Patel, Founder & Lead Researcher, You Are Not Alone & Dhara for Dhara (India) Diljott Kaurr, Humanitarian & Actress; Founder & President, Dream Buds Foundation (India) Đinh Thi. Ngoc, . Founder, Vietnam Digital Journey; Primary School Teacher, Thanh Binh Primary School (Vietnam) Efrit Karim, Partner Sales Manager, Study Group (Bangladesh) Eileen Kae Relao, Founder, Valtor Solutions (Philipinnes) Evelyn Chew, CEO, One Life Consultancy (Singapore) Hussain Ali Chengezi, President & Chief Instructor, Japan Karate Association (Pakistan) Dr Juhi Varshney, Senior Medical Officer, Department of Health & Family Welfare, Community Health Centre Sonai, Mathura, Uttar Pradesh (India) Kavita Rawat, Founder & Chairperson, Crime Control and Social Development Organization (CCSDO) (India) Kimberly Ann Valencia Lim, Founder, Kapit-Kulay Foundation (Philippines) Lorena Acula, Founder, Future Vision Sighted-Blind Inc (Philippines) Lucinda Walker, CEO, British Chamber of Commerce Korea (BCCK) (South Korea) Mei Tan, CEO, Asia Green Group (Malaysia) Nadeem Ahmed, Founder, Indians in Sydney (Australia) Dr Nataliya Mykhaylova, CEO, WeavAir (Singapore) Nguyen Thu Hue, Co-Founder, ABG Leadership Institute (Vietnam) Nila Marita, Executive Director, Prasasti Centre for Policy Studies (Indonesia) Nilanjana Sanyal, Author & Social Change Evangelist (India)
Dr Datuk Nor Fariza Ngah, Deputy Director-General of Health (Research and Technical Support), Ministry of Health (Malaysia) Nun Channy, Founder & CEO, Reacheny Enterprise (Cambodia) Dr Oh Zi Jian, Teacher, Batu Lanchang Vocational College (Malaysia) Ooi Sze Jin, Founder, A Kind Place (Singapore) Phan Thu Hu’o’ng, Vice Chairwoman, Thien . Tâm Foundation (Vingroup) (Vietnam) Race Wong, CEO, The DreamR Project Pte Ltd (Singapore) Salma Ponce, Finance, Governance & Community Impact Leader, Sydney Hospital – Clinic (Australia) Sammy Ng Tim Yeung, Managing Director – Buildings, Asia Infrastructure Solutions Hong Kong (China) Seng Sopheap, Country Director, FHI360 Cambodia (Cambodia) Sha Elijah Dumama-Alba, Member of Parliament, Bangsamoro Transition Authority Parliament (Philippines) Dr Simone Currim, Consultant Orthodontist, Jaslok/Saifee Hospital (India) Sittie Fahanie Uy-Oyod, Member of Parliament, Bangsamoro Transition Authority (Philippines) Sumit Kumar, Founder & Project Director, Fulminare Global (India) Suon Raksmey, Senior Residential Programs Manager, Harpswell Foundation (Cambodia) Thanda Ko Gyi, Founder & Project Director, Myanmar Ocean Project (Myanmar)
Insights from 2026 Listees CHRISTOPHER BOX
KIMBERLY ANN VALENCIA LIM
GLOBAL RELATIONSHIPS PARTNER, PWC UK
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Embedding kindness in company culture starts with remembering that the company is made up of individuals. That means creating a culture where people feel genuinely listened to, not just managed. Encourage leaders to pause before responding, ask questions, and listen properly rather than immediately moving to solutions or judgement. Ultimately, kindness is about treating people as individuals and taking the time to understand their context. If leaders consistently pause, listen, and show genuine interest in the person, rather than just focusing on the corporate objective, kindness becomes part of the culture rather than an ‘initiative’.
FOUNDER, KAPITKULAY FOUNDATION PHILIPPINES
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Kindness doesn’t spread because someone teaches it. It spreads because people witness it in one another. If you want kindness to become part of a company’s culture, create spaces where people can speak honestly, listen without judgment, and admit mistakes without fear. When one person models openness, respect, or generosity, it gives others permission to do the same. Culture isn’t built through values written on a wall. It’s built through behaviours that are repeated, observed, and shared. Over time, those small moments become the standard for how people work together.
Principles of kindness IN ACTION
Since 2018 we have gathered key behaviours and actions that bring the kindness principles to life in a workplace setting. Here are some key suggestions from our alumni from over the years in the UK and Asia Pacific on how to create a universal working environment.
Authenticity 1. Express kindness through authenticity, honesty, and respect. It’s being available and curious, and building trust — all of which is essential to high-performing teams. Supporting truth tellers, expressing different views honestly, not letting issues fester, being available, and using inquiry to understand and think through opportunities and challenges together.
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2. Establish career coaching services that prioritise authenticity, offering guidance that aligns with individual values and goals. 3. Create supportive and inclusive work environments that value humility, trust, and transparency, starting from the top. For example, encourage an open-door policy where leaders make themselves available to employees at all levels. This practice demonstrates humility and openness, allowing employees to share their ideas, concerns, and feedback without fear of judgment or retribution.
Consistency 1. Establish a consistent culture of kindness through personalised gestures and inclusive policies that promote a sense of belonging and appreciation.
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2. Implement an ‘Everyday Respect’ initiative that focuses on daily practices promoting inclusion and respect, such as daily meetings where colleagues’ contributions are considered, ensuring all employees are appreciated and treated equally. 3. Sustain support and engagement in community initiatives focusing on poverty alleviation through education, healthcare, and empowerment programs. 4. Set up a physical or digital board where employees can publicly acknowledge acts of respect and kindness they witness within the workplace. Recognising these actions reinforces a culture of everyday respect.
Principles of kindness IN ACTION
Connectivity 1. Develop mentorship programs that connect experienced professionals with emerging talent, focusing on fostering a supportive community and professional growth.
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2. Organise regular team-building workshops and crossdepartmental meetings to enhance communication and collaboration. 3. Build networks and programs that support diversity, create inclusive and supportive work environments, and cultivate opportunities for teams to come together in and out of work. 4. Host workshops or lunch-and-learn sessions where employees can present their work, share expertise, or discuss industry trends. These build connectivity and encourage a culture of continuous learning and knowledge exchange.
Courage/Resilience 1. Develop transparent and compassionate leadership practices, focusing on effective crisis management and community wellbeing.
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2. Encourage leaders to support their teams and communities during personal challenges, fostering a culture of resilience and generosity. 3. Create empowerment programs that transform personal challenges into community support and growth opportunities, particularly for marginalised groups. 4. Create an environment where employees are encouraged to take calculated risks without fearing negative consequences. Establish a culture where innovative ideas are valued and supported, even if they don’t always succeed.
Principles of kindness IN ACTION
Empathy 1. Implement an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) platform that provides mental health resources and organises regular listening circles to support employees during challenging times.
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2. Develop local community hiring initiatives focusing on empowering women and underrepresented groups through mentorship and development programs. 3. Establish programs that create partnerships with educational institutions to foster supportive environments for psychological youth development and wellbeing. 4. Establish an “Empathy Exchange” program where employees participate in role-swapping experiences for a day, allowing them to step into the shoes of their colleagues from different departments. This initiative encourages understanding and appreciation of diverse roles and perspectives, enhancing empathy and collaboration across teams.
Empowerment 1. Launch a “Better Way” initiative that encourages employees to propose innovative ideas for process improvement, providing resources and support for implementation and recognising contributions that enhance organisational efficiency and morale.
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2. Develop programs that promote financial inclusion and digital education for women and marginalised communities, advocating for policy changes to improve access to finance. 3. Establish educational programs that provide opportunities for marginalised communities and offer continuous mentorship. 4. Create structured mentorship and coaching programs that pair entry-level employees with experienced mentors to guide their professional development. Encourage mentors to provide constructive feedback and help mentees identify their strengths and areas for growth.
Principles of kindness IN ACTION
Fairness 1. Develop flexible work policies and support networks that promote work-life balance, ensuring fairness and inclusivity for all employees. 2. Establish comprehensive EDI programs that regularly assess workplace practices to identify and rectify biases.
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3. Implement fair and transparent salary policies, introduce innovative solutions to improve industry standards, and organise educational seminars for professional development. 4. Implement a standardised performance evaluation process that applies the same criteria to all employees. Provide clear expectations and regular feedback to ensure that performance reviews are fair and objective.
Generosity 1. Establish a foundation or grant program that allocates a portion of company profits to support community projects and initiatives, fostering a culture of generosity and corporate social responsibility.
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2. Organise financial literacy and fundraising programs, partnering with local organisations to conduct workshops and support community-driven projects. 3. Support and lead charitable initiatives such as a charity drop off and collection for employees and engage in community service with humility and generosity. 4. Introduce a “Volunteer Day” policy that allows employees to take a paid day off every so often to engage in community service or volunteer activities of their choice. This will foster a culture of social responsibility and empower employees to make a positive impact in their communities.
Principles of kindness IN ACTION
Mindfulness/Self-Awareness
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1. Integrate mindfulness practices into workplace culture by providing training and resources that help employees develop self-awareness. These include regular training sessions and workshops focused on mindfulness techniques such as meditation, deep breathing, and mindful listening. These programs can be led by certified mindfulness instructors and tailored to fit your organisation’s specific needs. 2. Implement coaching and wellness programs that promote mindfulness, empathy, and self-awareness among staff. For example, designate quiet spaces in the workplace where employees can retreat for a few moments of calm and reflection. These areas should be comfortable and free from distractions, offering a peaceful environment to practice mindfulness.
Respect 1. Enhance employee and customer engagement, ensuring inclusivity and respect for all voices in decision-making processes. 2. Develop mentorship programs that provide career and educational guidance, treating all mentees with dignity and respect.
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3. Form diversity and inclusion committees tasked with promoting inclusive practices throughout the organisation. These committees can lead initiatives, create educational content, and ensure diverse perspectives are represented and respected.
MARCH 9, 2027 HILTON LONDON BANKSIDE
2027 THEME: CURIOSITY
Connecting, inspiring & supporting THE NEXT GENERATION OF FEMALE LEADERS
Curiosity has never mattered more. As technology reshapes how we live and work, the leaders of tomorrow must be ready to question, adapt and embrace new possibilities. Curiosity drives innovation, challenges assumptions and inspires us to keep asking, listening and learning. Join us this International Women’s Day as we explore the power of curiosity to shape the future of leadership, unlock opportunities and inspire change. BE CURIOUS. BE INSPIRED. BE PART OF THE CONVERSATION
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SUMMIT | Leadership Development summit.womenofthefuture.co.uk Our annual summit addresses global agenda items through the lenses of next-generation leaders. The event gives delegates a rich combination of practical advice, inspiration, and insight. Through this summit, we want to provide a platform to showcase young female leaders and their leadership styles, as a new generation of female talent, having impact and making a difference.
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