Leadership Inspiration

I’ve been fortunate to work with incredible leaders, and I’ve always found it fascinating to observe them. They’ve shown me a kind of excellence I hadn’t known before—the power of words to shift a conversation, the impact of actions to redefine a moment, and the way emotions can be shaped with intention. Through their leadership, I’ve discovered countless shades of brilliance and inspiration.

1. Inspire

At its core, leadership is about people choosing to follow you. What keeps them following isn’t just authority—it’s inspiration. It can stem from a compelling vision that resonates with others, bold actions that unite people, or an attitude that convinces others of the leader’s potential to bring about change. Ultimately, inspiration is the fuel that propels people forward, encouraging them to move toward a shared goal.

Take Donald Trump and Elon Musk, for example. While controversial, both are great leaders who inspire their followers. “Make America Great Again.” “Life on Mars.” Their visions captured people’s imaginations, and their actions helped unite their followers in pursuit of those dreams.

In a different arena, look at JYP, a figure I deeply admire. I’ve always enjoyed watching audition shows, especially when I see raw talent shining through. But what captivates me even more than the performances is the passion of the judges, especially JYP. I still find myself revisiting Park Jimin’s performance of “Over the Rainbow” from K-pop Star, even after 12 years. It’s not just about the performance; it’s JYP’s expression—the way his eyes light up with love for music, admiration for the talent, and the emotion he feels from the stage. While I’m not a singer, if I had to choose an agency, JYP’s passion would lead me to them.

2. Focus on Impact

Great leaders prioritize results over effort and outcomes over activities. They are deliberate in their choices, enabling the team to focus on a few things that truly matter while letting go of distractions.

I was particularly impressed by Chef Hyunseok Choi from White Spoon on Culinary Class War. When the match began, he immediately gathered his team and said, “There are things more important than chefs in the kitchen—ingredients. So, let’s focus on securing the right ingredients first.” Despite the pressure to win, there were insufficient ingredients to work with. Yet, Chef Choi believed that selecting and working with the best ingredients was more critical than the chefs themselves. By focusing on what truly mattered, he led his team to victory.

We’ve seen many cases where doing everything doesn’t help a brand establish its identity or grow a business. It also doesn’t lead to unconventional execution or exceptional results. Focusing on the right things is what makes the difference.

3. Ask the Right Questions

I have a role model who has forever changed the way I think. In my career, I’ve met many smart leaders, but when I met her, something shifted. She had this incredible ability to make me feel like the smartest person in the room. She listened carefully and, rather than dictating the path forward, she asked questions that encouraged us to rethink our ideas and expand our thinking. The plans we developed felt personal—they felt like mine. I poured my energy into them, believing that my effort was what drove the business’s success. It wasn’t until much later that I realized the true brilliance wasn’t in my work—it was in her approach.

Her power lay in asking the right questions—questions that guided us to the right paths and opened doors to new possibilities. Her questions were designed to challenge assumptions, uncover hidden opportunities, and spark curiosity. They helped us see beyond the obvious, to explore avenues we might have missed.

Questions are the answer. She taught me that the right questions are the key to transformation.

4. Build Resilience

Adversity and failure are inevitable. The key isn’t avoiding them but embracing them and coming back stronger.

For many Koreans born before 2002, the Korea-Japan World Cup is a defining moment. I vividly remember the energy during the matches, the streets flooded with people wearing red, united in excitement and pride.

Like many around the world, we didn’t expect to make it to the semi-finals. We were a nation desperate for success. We had never won a World Cup match before, and we hired a coach, Guus Hiddink, who had once humiliated us with a 5-0 defeat in the 1998 World Cup.

Guus Hiddink took over South Korea’s national team in 2001. After a tough 5-0 loss to France and the Czech Republic, the media mocked him, calling him the “5-0 coach” and questioning his abilities. Despite the criticism, Hiddink stayed focused on the long-term vision, disregarding the pressure for immediate results.

Hiddink challenged Korea’s rigid football culture. He selected players based on performance, not seniority, and put them through grueling training camps at high altitudes. He arranged friendlies against Europe’s best teams, sacrificing short-term morale to expose weaknesses and strengthen the team for the future.

The media doubted him, but when the 2002 World Cup came, Korea stunned the world, reaching the semi-finals. Hiddink proved his critics wrong, and his resilience changed Korean football forever.

I once worked in a tough business environment, where each year brought new challenges. Yet, the leaders remained calm and resilient, always focusing on the lessons from failure and pushing forward with determination. Their ability to stay focused, no matter the setbacks, was a constant source of inspiration.

5. Elevate Others

When Leena Nair was offered the position of Global CEO at Chanel, she reached out to her mentor, Indra Nooyi. Leena asked, “Am I good enough? Why me?” Indra was mad: “Why me? You shall never ask that question again. You deserve it.” This moment captures how a great leader makes others feel valued and empowers them to step into their potential.

I’m lucky to have mentors like her. In moments of self-doubt, their words lifted me: “You are ready. You’ve been trained for this.”

It’s often said that people may forget the outcomes you achieve, but they’ll always remember how you made them feel. I will forever remember the leaders who made me feel valued and assured, and I hope to do the same for others.

Not all great leaders are the same. Each brings their own style, strengths, and flaws. Yet, despite these differences, they share a common foundation. They inspire others, focus on meaningful impact, ask the right questions, build resilience, and elevate those around them. In the end, leadership isn’t about perfection, but about the clarity to drive change and the influence that lasts.