Growing as a Mindful Leader

By listening more and telling less, I’ve seen people and teams transform. There is magic in asking the right questions and watching a team realize they can come up with the solution on their own. It’s powerful to see what can be achieved when you let people solve their own problems.

I’ve learned that grounded and self-aware teams collaborate better, solve problems faster and take more ownership.

My growth has also been fueled by a daily commitment to meditation, breathing exercises and mindfulness. These practices help me step back, stay grounded and approach challenges with clarity and perspective. They’ve strengthened my ability to remain present – both in my personal life and at work.

Other milestones at the beginning of my journey include working alongside my mother, a nurse in a psychiatric ward in Germany, in between jobs early in my career. I helped dementia patients and others with basic care during a difficult stage, sometimes at the end stage of their lives. The experience taught me humility. Today, being humble in my job means not just giving feedback but asking for it a lot more. It’s the foundation of a good team culture.

I strive to create a safe and authentic environment at work. I tell my team: “I’m your best example. I moved around a lot within Magna. If you can’t grow on this team, we can talk about it and I can help. I believe good leadership is not about keeping talent for yourself, but helping people grow — even if that growth eventually takes them to another team.”