The Timeless Leader

 “Leadership is not about being in charge. It’s about taking care of those in your charge.” Simon Sinek

When I came across this quote it made me reflect on the different leaders I have been fortunate to work with. It also took me even further back, to think about a leader I grew up watching without even recognising at the time how much I was learning from him.

My early memories of my uncle, my Peripa (Mayapa as we call him) is of how he always carried himself with a quiet, unmistakable strength. There was a dignity in the way he spoke, the way he listened, the way he treated people. And wherever he went, the wave of respect followed.

I remember how people were always looking for him - be it family, colleagues, friends, or staff. Someone always needed his advice, his clarity, or simply his attentive ear. As children, when visitors came, we were called to show care and hospitality and to welcome all guests properly. Now I realise those were my earliest trainings in leadership - lessons in respect, concern, communication, and grace.

He held high standards for himself and everyone around him but balanced that with genuine care. He knew his teams well, not just their skills, but their lives, their families, the things that mattered to them. Whether he was participating in the annual company picnic or rallying his team on the cricket ground he made people feel seen. A wedding invitation from a support staff member was treated with the same warmth as an invitation from a senior management personal. He did not build trust through authority - he built it through presence. He exhibited how leadership lives in relationships, in consistency, in noticing the small things others might overlook. And he did notice the small things: how you prepared for a meeting, how you spoke, how you carried yourself, how you followed through on your word. And just as he observed us, we too were observing him—absorbing lessons without even realising it, learning simply by watching, listening, and being around him. Those unconscious lessons became part of us long before we recognised their value.

I remember hearing how, on the day he retired, people from across the entire company - from the Managing Director to the security guard - lined the corridor all the way to the main gate to bid him farewell. That moment said everything. It was a silent salute, an informal guard of honour for the countless lessons everyone inherited quietly, naturally, through years of witnessing the way he led. It was not the position they were honouring - it was the person. Today, his advice is still sought out by so many of us. He continues to be an excellent listener. He listens with full attention, thoughtful curiosity, and a kind of patience that makes you share everything. His advice is never rushed. It is practical, relevant, grounded, and always exactly what you need to hear.

As I reflect on my leadership style, I often catch glimpses of him in my own actions: in how I listen, how I prepare, how I build relationships, how I handle difficult conversations, how I hold fast to values. So much of what I do feels shaped by the example he set so quietly, so consistently. Leaders like him show us that real leadership is timeless. It is carried forward in the culture they create the values they uphold, and the respect they command every single day. Long after the work ends, their legacy continues to lead.

So over to you then: What are the leadership qualities that have shaped you?