Burnout and balance: Leaders share emotional side of success
Leadership required understanding people beyond their job titles and recognising the shared goal that ties everyone together.
NURSYAHMINA ZAINAL
KUALA LUMPUR - Conversations about modern leadership are shifting and today’s leaders are speaking more openly about burnout, mental health and emotional honesty.
Cuura Malaysia Sdn Bhd director Sarah Shah Nor said the difficult moments she faced in the past had reshaped her understanding of leadership.
She said leading by example was not only about being present, working hard, or staying late with the team, but also about being selfless and honest.
"Watching my team evolve from 'tired salespeople into leaders in their own right' became one of my most meaningful milestones," she said.
She also shared that she witnessed a different side of leadership at home when her husband eventually joined the business.
She said her husband would occasionally step in with, "I will handle dinner for the kids, you go sort out the pop-up," which she believed had helped normalise men taking responsibility in the household.
Her story opened the door to a larger discussion about burnout, emotional labour and the hidden pressures many leaders faced.
For iCare Dental Malaysia director and founder Dr Ibrahim Shahruddin, leadership required understanding people beyond their job titles and recognising the shared goal that ties everyone together.
He said a team can succeed even when members work differently or carried different responsibilities, adding that true leadership lies in recognising these differences and guiding the team as a whole.
"Leadership is not always about demonstrating capability. Stepping back can also be a sign of strength," he said.
Meanwhile, content creator Alana Dunsmore offered a contrasting yet insightful perspective from the digital space.
She said in her line of work, collaboration was not defined by gender but by respect and creativity.
"We collaborate based on respect, boundaries and shared creativity.
"We work with people who make similar or different content and we focus on spreading positive and meaningful messages," she said.
Dunsmore said she used her platform to ensure no one felt left out or belittled, regardless of gender, believing strongly in inclusivity and authenticity.
The three speakers' shared their insights during Sinar Daily's "The Gender Equation: Leading Through Balance" live panel discussion at KLGCC Mall, here, on Nov 7.
Their perspectives converged on one key message: balanced leadership is not defined by gender, but by empathy, understanding and respect for differences.
The session was moderated by Girls4Girls Malaysia deputy country lead Fildzah Zulkifli.
Download Sinar Daily application.Click Here!
