The Power of Leading with Your Values

When The Gallery Seoul had the opportunity to host Pinky Lilani, we were thrilled. Pinky's life story and work perfectly embody our mission to empower expat spouses and partners by fostering professional development, facilitating meaningful connections, and nurturing aspirations to help them stay inspired and engaged. Her presentation, which focused on leading with core values like kindness, curiosity, courage, and meaning, resonated deeply as we navigate the pause in our professional journeys.

Connecting Over Food

Pinky shared her journey from moving from Calcutta to London, learning to cook in a new country, and caring for her family as a stay-at-home mom. She then beautifully described how she transformed her passion for food and cooking classes into something much larger: a network that ultimately sparked the Women of the Future Awards.

• A simple meal is a chance to share food, conversation, and a common experience.

• That conversation can spark an idea, a new friendship, or a key meeting.

• Pinky used food, her cooking classes, and demonstrations at bookstores to talk to people she might not have otherwise met.

• The kindness she showed in these interactions opened doors to greater connections.

Guided by Mantras

Pinky's life has been guided by powerful mantras that serve as the foundation for her transition from home cook, to published chef, and to change-maker.

• “If you want to go fast go alone, if you want to go far go together.” This makes one understand that there is strength in working together, where your attitude, courage, and authenticity all support working together.

• “You have not lived a perfect day unless you have done something for someone who can never repay you.” This is a powerful message of kindness and finding meaning by helping others.

• She also challenged the audience to “try something new,” emphasizing that attempting new things can lead to new ideas, new skills, and new opportunities.

What mantras are guiding your own journey as an expat or as a professional?

The 7Q’s: A Measure of Human Capability

Pinky's life lessons helped her refine her 7Q’s (Quotients), which are measures of human capability that can be used personally and professionally as a development tool or a guide to success.

While the intelligence and emotional quotients are important, Pinky focuses on the remaining five as having made all the difference in her life.

• Attitude and Authenticity: These relate to how we lead and how we treat others. We should use our vulnerability and honesty to empower ourselves and those around us. Authentic leaders, like Sister Gerardine, have a great impact on moving their vision forward.

• Meaning: This is what gives us purpose. If we pivot while here as expats, we should be using meaning to guide our choices.

• Curiosity and Courage: Trying something new because you are curious and have the courage to step up and learn or lead is vital to how we grow and learn about ourselves. This is how cultural understanding becomes a capability, not just an observation, accelerated by everyday expat life becoming practice.

• Kindness: Likeability and kindness go hand in hand. In today’s world where leaders, across the globe, are lacking kindness, standing up and employing kindness as a leadership principle will be a winning strategy in the long run.

  
  

These 7Q's are not just a measure of capability; they are values that should drive leaders. How can these 7Q’s drive you in 2026, as you pivot your career or think about the success you have had in the past?

Values-based leadership, guided by these 7Q’s, is truly transformational. Pinky Lilani has shown us through her leadership journey, from stay-at-home mom to leading a global awards program, that these values and mantras can have a great impact.