The Powerhouse Global Interview

I was delighted to be interviewed recently by Lady Anita Duckworth-Bradshaw for the February issue of Powerhouse Global Magazine. This is the transcript of the interview.

This is the link to the digital magazine: https://issuu.com/powerhouseglobalmag/docs/pgmag_21th_edition_feb_2021_web/s/11697161

PGM: So good to have you on today’s interview with Lady Anita, Lavina.

Thanks for having me. It’s such a pleasure to be here with you.

PGM: Please introduce yourself to our readers

I’m Lavinia Thanapathy and I’m a professional speaker on Change, Confidence and Gender Equity. My signature keynote is called “Embrace the Crazy” and it is all about maintaining mental wellness even in the craziest of times. Our ability to deal with change is directly related to how successful we are in all aspects of our lives and it’s a skill that isn’t taught anywhere. As part of a diplomatic family, we live and breathe change. I’ve combined this practical knowledge with my 2 decades of service on non-profit boards, and my education as a lawyer to develop a programme that I now teach on dealing successfully with change on a human level.

PGM: You were recently named one of the top voices on LinkedIn.What does this achievement mean to you?

I’ve been on LinkedIn since 2006. At the time, it was only really used to keep up with your network as they moved around or for job-seekers. In the last 5 years, it has become so much more. LinkedIn is an important way to establish thought-leadership and to connect with like-minded professionals from around the world. LinkedIn’s article section is one of least utilised but most powerful functions on the platform. I’m grateful to the LinkedIn News team for selecting me as one of their top voices for 2020. I think most of this is because of a series of posts and articles that I put out at the start of the pandemic. My specialty is Change and with coronavirus locking down the world, we were dealing with change on an unprecedented scale. I used LinkedIn to share my thoughts of how we could maintain our mental wellness through a period of collective trauma. This was very timely and I received so many messages from around the world from people who found those posts helpful during a difficult time. I have a newsletter on LinkedIn called Embrace the Crazy and anyone can subscribe and receive monthly articles from me.

PGM: As someone who has held top positions in various organisations, what are the five keys to leading a successful team?

It’s easy to make a list but each item on this list is difficult to achieve and takes a great deal of time and effort.

1. Have a plan.

2. Put the right people in key positions.

3. Make yourself visible and communicate internally and externally regularly.

4. Ask good questions and listen to differing opinions.

5. Care about your people, your product, your organisation and your values.

PGM: Please tell us more about your signature talk (Embrace The Crazy)

I developed the ideas behind Embrace the Crazy about 10 years ago when I delivered it as my first keynote at Accor in Singapore. The goal is to motivate audiences to embrace change and develop habits of change to better deal with the emotional toll that change often takes. The talk is packed with real-life stories and filled with ideas that inspire action. I’m constantly updating this keynote to ensure that it will continue to energise people and elevate events around the world.

In November 2020, I recorded “Embrace the Crazy” as a TEDx Talk and its now available on the TED YouTube Channel. Because it was recorded in the midst of the pandemic, I did not deliver it on the iconic TED stage but instead recorded it in my living room on my sofa. As a speaker on change, I live and breathe the ideas that I talk about. It doesn’t mean that change is always easy for me. It just means that I can limit the damage with the change muscles that I’ve been working on for years.

PGM: As a global influencer, how can businesses mitigate the losses that they have experienced due to the impact of covid-19?

I think that the Stockdale Paradox that Jim Collins describes in his book “Good to Great” is useful for both people and companies. It is named for Admiral Stockdale who was a prisoner of war in Vietnam. When asked what helped him survive the innumerable hardships of his years as a POW, he said that it was a twofold paradox. First, you must have unwavering faith that you will prevail and come through the difficult time. The second part is even harder, you must be able to clearly see and deal with the brutal realities of the present situation that you find yourself.

This idea is echoed in other survivor stories from Victor Frankl who survived the Holocaust to íngrid Betancourt who spent six years in captivity, held in the jungle by the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (Farc). In their stories, they talk about the ones that don’t make it out, the optimists who believe that that their ordeal would end by Christmas, their next birthday, fill in the date. Their spirits were all eventually crushed by disappointment when the dates came and went without a miracle rescue.

So to survive & thrive, we need to believe that we will prevail while we deal with the situation directly in front of us today. The Stockdale Paradox. The pandemic will be a turning point for many of us. Whether the trajectory of your future will point upwards or downwards will be decided by your actions now.

PGM: How do you create work/life balance amidst your busy schedules?

I rarely say that I am busy. I may have many competing demands on my time but I am always aware that all the demands are of my own choice and making. Because I fundamentally believe that I am in control through my choices, I am rarely, if ever, overwhelmed.

Life is seasonal. There will be times when parenting will dominate, there will be times when your career or business will dominate, there will be times when romance dominates, there will be times when health will dominate. Expecting to do everything well at all times will set us up for failure. Allow the seasons to happen and forgive yourself for whatever lapses or falls fallow during its off-season.

PGM: What is your message for women who are struggling with low self-esteem?

Our job in life is to be better and better at being who we already are. Not to create a patchwork personality curated by the demands of our situation. I’ve seen so many women women emerge from the cocoon when they allow themselves to drop the heavy cloak of expectation. In the words of Pablo Neruda: “Someday, somewhere- anywhere, unfailingly, you’ll find yourself, and that, and only that, can be the happiest or bitterest hour of your life.”

Surround yourself with people who help you to take up all of the space that the universe intends for you. Boldly answer the question of “Who do you think you are?” with all of your gifts, instead of shirking into the shadows.

PGM: What would you say to your younger self?

Enjoy the ride!

PGM:  Thank you for your time today – Much appreciated.

Thank you so much for having me! I had fun!

PGM: Please share your links with us

Website: www.laviniathanapathy.com

LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/laviniathanapathy

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCsV3e5FdI-nuzHWnnyjdJtw

TEDx Talk: https://youtu.be/cb8GQlbQcrU

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/laviniathanapathypublic/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/laviniathanapathy

Twitter: https://mobile.twitter.com/lavinialenat

 Amazon Author Page: https://amazon.com/author/laviniathanapathy

 Buy my book "Unleash Your Voice" at: www.amazon.com/Unleash-Your-Voice-Powerful-Speaking/dp/1543749968 or https://www.bookdepository.com/Unleash-Your-Voice-Lavinia-Thanapathy/9781543749960