Be vulnerable and know yourself better: 7 leaders on the advice they're grateful for

“What’s a piece of advice you’re grateful for?” is a favourite question on the World Economic Forum’s Meet the Leader podcast.

It’s a subtly different question to asking someone for their best piece of advice, because it taps into how the advice has resonated with a person, and changed the way they think or act.

Over the course of 2024, host Linda Lacina has had the opportunity to speak to leaders from all industries and walks of life, and from all over the world.

Here are some of their best responses to that question, and the impact that it has had on their professional and personal lives.

For Microsoft President Brad Smith, advice from a former mentor over 20 years ago continues to ring true. “He said to me, the hardest thing you will find in your new job is letting go of things, because so often you will feel that if you could do it yourself, you would do it better. But you have to let go.”

The trick is to make a conscious decision to step back, Smith says. “There are certain projects that are so important that you actually need to exercise real control. But most of the time you have to get more comfortable letting go, and having less control.”

Ravi Kumar S, CEO of Cognizant, has long valued the idea that leaders need to remain vulnerable and not dwell on successes and failures.

“Sometimes you could be overwhelmed with success, which will take away the authenticity of who you are,” he says. “Sometimes you're overwhelmed with failure. And if you focus too much on the fact that you have failed, you are never going to lift yourself up and come out of it. So being vulnerable and staying hungry for the next big thing has been my strength.”

Christopher Oakes, CEO of Reefgen, shared three questions which help him take stock of the people he works with: Can I trust you? Do you care about me? Will you do the right thing?

These questions are a litmus test of his relationships and have helped guide him in his professional partnerships, as well as his private life, he says.

Meanwhile, Sander van ’t Noordende, CEO of Randstad, also cautions people to question their assumptions – particularly where emotions are concerned.

“When people are passionate, sometimes maybe even angry, that means they care. So don't take anger too personally,” he says.

Remembering this has helped him empathize and avoid internalizing people’s anger. It makes it easier to find a solution and move on rather than become stressed, Noordende says.

The need to recognize your own strengths and weaknesses has been a recurring theme for many.

Fidelma Russo, Executive Vice President and General Manager of Hewlett Packard Enterprise, underlines how important it is to work to overcome your Achilles’ heel and triggers.

“Sometimes when you're having challenges and difficulties, you really have to look in the mirror and think: is it you? Is it how you react? And if so, you need to really own that yourself.”

Daphne Koller, CEO of Insitro, continues this theme:

“Often our areas for development are our strengths taken to extremes,” she says. “Sometimes if you have something you are really good at, you end up overusing it and then it ends up being a minus.”

Koller uses the example of how she is good at coming up with ideas, but now that she is in a leadership position, those ideas can unintentionally spawn new projects and suck in resources.

For Nigina Muntean, Chief of Innovation at the United Nations Population Fund, knowing yourself needs to be put at the very core of your career.

“I never saw my [career] growth as a vertical ladder. It's kind of like a jungle gym movement instead,” she says. “Sometimes it's lateral, sometimes it's going down in the volunteering somewhere. Sometimes it's jumping up and accepting new challenges and new opportunities.

“Throughout my professional career, I never did something just for money – I always did what I really love and am passionate about. And I think that's part of also staying true to myself and to my interests and to my beliefs.”

Listen to the full episode here.