A reflective journey into farming, leadership, purpose, and personal growth. Discover how nature, stewardship, and self-discovery can redefine leadership.
Lessons from the field that transformed the way I view leadership, growth, and purpose.
My most powerful leadership lesson came from a piece of field, not a boardroom. You wouldn’t expect that, nor did I...
As I logout of the Diary at Diageo, with memories & inspiration to “raise the bar” in the journey ahead, the past few weeks have been quietly transformative.
Instead of counting days, I chose nature to nurture a long-held love: farming. I took charge of a portion of my farmland and, quite literally, learned by doing. In the true spirit of grain to glass -my journey moved from garden leave to ground & field
Trips to the farmland boosted my belief in what nature gives us so generously - perspective, patience, and presence ; Qualities that are often lost in the concrete rhythm of city life and corporate calendars & clock.
A few months ago, during an Impact People Manager Development training session, we were given deceptively simple homework: define your life’s purpose- with no deadline Rohan Kristoph Chinniah
Somewhere between quiet walks through the fields and long hours of reflection, I realised I may be closer to defining mine - without deadline!
The purpose, I’m learning, isn’t always about changing paths. Often, it’s about enriching the one we’re already on.
During this time, I also revisited my grandfather’s handwritten farming records from the 1930s - meticulous notes on crops, seasons, perseverance, and faith in time. Between those yellowed pages and the soil under my feet, I didn’t just rediscover family history - I rediscovered myself and a future with family.
Though I have moved on from Diageo, these weeks became a much-needed pause. A reminder that growth doesn’t always happen in motion. Sometimes, it happens in stillness.
Leadership, I realised, isn’t always about scale, speed, or titles. Sometimes it’s about stewardship- listening deeply, nurturing patiently, and building systems that endure.
The same principles & practices that strengthen farms also strengthen organisations.
As I step into the next chapter life’s logbook, I do so with clarity and intent. My commitment to building and deepening my corporate leadership journey remains strong, and I look forward to growing within complex organisations for the next decade and beyond.
Alongside this, farming will remain a parallel passion - one that keeps me grounded, curious, and connected.
It feels especially meaningful that the UnitedNations has declared 2026 The International Year of the Woman Farmer - a recognition that women’s contributions to agrifood systems deserve visibility, equity, and support. For me, this isn’t about stepping away from leadership, but about broadening how I define the impact and scope in this space.
Onwards enRoute to Roots - renewed purpose, and a future I intend to cultivate, both in boardrooms, backyards and beyond. 🌱