Examples of Kind Leadership in Practice
- Satya Nadella – CEO of Microsoft
When Nadella became CEO, he shifted Microsoft’s culture from one of internal competition to collaboration and empathy. He emphasized emotional intelligence, encouraged learning from failures and led with humility and respect.
- Jacinda Ardern – Former Prime Minister of New Zealand
Known for her compassion-driven leadership, Ardern responded to crises (e.g., Christchurch attacks, COVID-19) with empathy, clear communication and care for citizens’ wellbeing, gaining global respect. In 2025 she published a book, A different Kind of Power
- Rosie Batty – Australian Domestic Violence Advocate
After personal tragedy, Batty became a national leader in family violence prevention. She led with openness, emotional resilience and compassion—qualities that earned her the Australian of the Year award in 2015.
- Paul Polman – Former CEO of Unilever
Polman focused on sustainability and social impact while leading Unilever. He placed long-term stakeholder value over short-term shareholder profits, creating a purpose-led and people-centred corporate strategy.
(main source: HR Hacking, 2025)