Connecting with S. Mona Sinha

How have relationships influenced your professional development and leadership style?

At my core, I love people and their stories. I believe that relationships are built upon empathy and become stronger as you connect with people through shared lived experiences and identifying with their stories. When you connect on that fundamental level, the relationship pivots from a focus on differences (rank, class, skin color, ethnicity, age) to commonalities which deepens the foundation of relationships. In my professional life, my reviews (by bosses, peers and those who reported to me) consistently highlighted both my capabilities and my ability to inspire teams to work together and navigate tense moments. I believe that this approach allowed me to maintain close relationships, even in unpleasant situations where I had to sunset a project or terminate a position as part of a large restructuring assignment across Asia that I led for many years.

My leadership style is one of radical listening and collaboration. I build individual relationships and work with team dynamics to bring out the best in people. This is also why I consider mentorship a key element of a good leader.

Do you have any tips for maintaining and building strong relationships?

Listen, learn, and share. I believe that having an abundance mindset allows you to listen without judgment so that you can learn from difference. If we were all the same, our world would be monochromatic. I also believe that being vulnerable allows someone who may not agree with you to become more willing to compromise. Building strong relationships does not mean that you agree with someone all the time, but when you do disagree, stay respectful and open to acknowledging their viewpoint. I maintain relationships by taking the time to send a note or an email if someone has been promoted or recognized and reaching out in times of difficulty. By listening and asking how you can help someone, you build trust and deepen relationships that stand you in good stead across time.

How have you intentionally built inclusiveness into your circles?

One practice I follow diligently is to ask my teams what would make a project or their work stronger and more meaningful. Often that simple question identifies what is missing and by including it, the whole effort becomes more successful. The person asked feels valued for their input, the person included feels appreciated and the diversity adds much needed thought leadership.?

In my own circles, because I love people, I enjoy diverse experiences that teach me more about culture and what makes people tick. I am passionate about human rights and women’s full agency and that is all about inclusiveness and intersectionality. Everybody deserves to be equal on planet Earth. Structural inequality is a social construct that must be undone because we cannot function as siloes in society. Finding connection across continents and communities is a life enriching experience for everyone.

What community or communities are you proud to be a part of?

Smith College transformed my experience as a young woman and shaped me for life. I am so proud to have given back to Smith as a trustee and supporter and continue to mentor hundreds of students to pay it forward. I am also proud of helping to catalyze the social enterprise program at Columbia Business School and regularly go back for board meetings and to speak to students.

?I love communities of women that support each other. Leaders of the Equal Rights Amendment , the fearless women of Equality Now and the bold funder community at Women Moving Millions are all dear to me. I am proud to support the women founders who are changing the world, most of whom are women of color. My foray into documentary film has strengthened my bond with the transgender community who I deeply care for.

I adore the spunk and resilience I see in my mentees, and I also love my dog-mom community. All my friends who are social justice warriors inspire and support my work and passion every day. I am a proud activist, gender justice advocate and leader of women across the globe who strive for a gender equal world.?

Who’s a Connector that's made a difference in your life??

It’s impossible to name just one. I will name four, but there have been many more who have shaped me into who I am now.

At Smith, it was my advisor Professor Cynthia Taft-Morris and her friend Sarah Epstein who housed me during my 6-month stint in Washington DC and who I still call Aunt Sally. Both would host small dinners so I could meet strong women and that generosity has influenced how I show up in the world.

In my professional life it was the CEO of Unilever’s Elizabeth Arden, Peter England , who was a sponsor to me and became a dear friend, mentor, and champion until he passed away last year. He loved connecting me to others in his orbit.

In my life now as a champion of gender justice, it is the inimitable Gloria Steinem who I am lucky enough to call my chosen family and who encourages me every day to never give up and persevere on my path with hope and optimism.

Susan McPherson is a serial connector, seasoned communicator and founder and CEO of?McPherson Strategies , a communications consultancy focused on the intersection of brands and social impact. She is the author of The Lost Art of Connecting: The Gather, Ask, Do Method for Building Meaningful Relationships

Follow Susan on?LinkedIn ,?Twitter ?and?Instagram ?and order her new book,?The Lost Art of Connecting , also available on Kindle and Audiobook.