How fatherhood taught this CEO to lead with heart and purpose

BALANCING leadership and fatherhood is no easy feat, especially when both demand your time, attention, and heart.

Being a father is about responsibility; being a leader is about accountability. When these two worlds collide, the challenge isn’t just about managing time, but managing presence.

Ninja Van Malaysia, chief executive officer, Lin Zheng - Photo by Ninja Van's management

For Ninja Van Malaysia chief executive officer Lin Zheng, navigating both roles has taught him that success lies not in choosing one over the other, but in learning how to lead with purpose, both at the office and at home.

Married since 2022 and now a father to a son who turns two this year, Lin shared how becoming a parent has deepened, not changed his leadership perspective.

“Fatherhood hasn’t drastically changed my leadership style

“I’ve always believed in direct communication, empathy, and investing in my team’s growth. But becoming a father has made me far more intentional about boundaries and personal time.

“I avoid late meetings unless necessary, because I now viscerally understand how precious those non-work hours are for family (or just sanity),” he said when contacted recently.

He said each morning begins with preparing his son for childcare, a quiet ritual before the corporate chaos kicks in. Once he’s at the office, Lin slips into strategic mode, leading teams, solving logistics challenges, and navigating an industry that rarely slows down.

However, when the day ends, so does work, barring emergencies.

“I compartmentalise. When I’m at work, I focus on work. When I’m home, I’m present. That mindset keeps me grounded, both roles are equally important and deserve the same emotional investment,” he added.

Lin acknowledges that the balancing act between work and fatherhood isn’t perfect, but perfection isn’t the goal. What truly matters, he believes, is the ability to prioritise, set clear boundaries, and show up fully in both roles.

He said he has learned to allocate dedicated time for both family and work, treating both with equal importance. By delegating effectively and placing trust in his leadership team, he’s able to step back when necessary without compromising outcomes.

His approach at home mirrors his leadership style: grounded in trust, empathy, and resilience. And with his wife also working full-time, their partnership plays a central role in keeping things steady.

“My wife also works full time, so we operate as a team, coordinating schedules, sharing responsibilities, and stepping in for each other when things get hectic.

“That partnership is key to making it work both at home and at work,” he said.

Fatherhood, he added, has sharpened some of his most vital leadership skills. Patience when things go off-script. Emotional regulation when things get tough. Clear communication, something tested daily by a toddler.

And above all, resilience, the ability to keep showing up, even on the hard days.

Leadership and parenting, for Lin, both involve inevitable setbacks, but the key is persistence.

He believes that the ability to communicate clearly with a two-year-old is a powerful test of leadership, as it requires clarity, patience, and emotional control.

As a father, he hopes to pass on more than just professional ambition to his son. He wants to instill a mindset rooted in growth, where effort, curiosity, and learning from failure matter more than perfection.

To him, the real risk in life and leadership isn’t making mistakes, but standing still.

At Ninja Van, Lin is shaping a company culture that mirrors those values.

Employees are encouraged to find their own work-life rhythm. Flexible arrangements are available where possible. And more importantly, fatherhood is normalised, not seen as a disruption to leadership.

“We also champion the idea that parenting is not just a mother’s job, our policies and culture encourage fathers to be equally engaged.

“Whether it’s attending a school event or being at home for a newborn, we don’t make our employees feel guilty for choosing family when it matters,” he said.

To Lin, fatherhood is a journey, not a checklist. He believes there’s no one-size-fits-all formula, people will stumble, feel overwhelmed, and be stretched beyond their limits.

Yet, through those challenges, they grow in unexpected ways and that growth, he says, is what makes the journey truly worthwhile.

In both boardrooms and living rooms, Lin applies the same values, presence, patience, and purpose.