Embracing Human-Centric Growth: A Journey of Leadership and Impact - Siew Ting Foo
In recent weeks, I’ve had the privilege of being interviewed on several podcasts, delving into the concept of ‘human-centric’ growth. With an unwavering passion for this topic, I’ve decided to center this month’s newsletter around it. I’ll delve into the heart of human-centric growth, inspired by my discussions and personal contemplations on the matter.
Multi-Stakeholder Leadership: A Framework for Impact
Two years ago, I found myself immersed in an extraordinary experience — the Global Top 100 CMO program by the Institute of Real Growth. Pioneered by the enthusiastic minds of Frank Van Den Driest and Marc de Swan Arons, this institute merges a love for marketing with a desire to empower CMOs for success. Amidst the challenges posed by the Covid era, what resonated deeply with me was a well-structured and purpose-driven framework for ‘human-centric’ growth.
This framework champions the role of CMO leaders as they drive business and brand impact through a multi-stakeholder lens. These stakeholders encompass not just customers, but also the planet, society, investors, and crucially, their own teams. By adopting a holistic perspective that shapes the value proposition of the brands and businesses they oversee, CMOs foster better business outcomes and brand growth. This perspective has indelibly shaped my approach to every venture since.
Personal Leadership: Crafting Purpose
Central to this approach is personal leadership. My journey began 15 years ago through a leadership program that gathered the top 200 leaders within the company I was working for. There, I embarked on an exploration of purpose — an understanding of how this concept intersects with individual self-leadership. Through this process, I learned to forge my personal purpose, by aligning my passion, skills, contributions, and vocation with the needs of society. This synergy, known as ‘ikigai,’ which translates to the ‘meaning of life,’ forms the bedrock of my guiding philosophy.
People Leadership: Fostering Alignment
Since that pivotal moment, I’ve integrated the concept of purpose into my work, the brands I steward, and the teams I lead. Aligning my purpose with the individual and collective purpose of my teams and the overarching corporate vision has become a cornerstone of my leadership mantra. Why invest the energy in cultivating teams this way? Because I believe true productivity and excellence stem from individuals bringing their authentic selves to their roles. When personal purpose, passion, skills, and the work environment coalesce, true magic occurs.
However, this path isn’t without its challenges. It demands resilience, empathy, and self-awareness, both from leaders and every member of the team. I’ve come to appreciate that crafting an environment where personal and collective purpose thrive is a complex yet rewarding endeavor.
The Pursuit of Human-Centric Growth
As I wrap up this article, I acknowledge that I’m far from achieving mastery in this pursuit. Yet, this is my dedicated journey to deliver ‘human-centric’ growth — an endeavor that drives both business and brand impact while nurturing individuals. After all, the role of a marketing leader is an intricate interplay of ‘art’ and ‘science,’ akin to the pursuit of a Da Vinci-esque CMO.
In this journey toward human-centric growth, I find fulfillment in the ongoing process of aligning personal purpose with corporate vision and witnessing the transformative power it holds.
Siew Ting Foo is a future — focused, human- centric growth leader. She has delivered growth across diverse industries, through helping organizations re-imagining brands, businesses and organizations. Siew Ting is highly energetic, purpose-driven collaborator, who believes in harnessing people’s potential to build brands, business and people. She combines “art” and “science” in marketing and harness community to build powerful brands.
Connect with me on LinkedIn.
