When I began my role as I-PACS Program Manager in 2011, through a project by Counterpart International subcontracted to CRDSA, I was excited and hopeful. I had been given the opportunity to lead a team of seven individuals — each from different provinces, districts, educational backgrounds, and social environments. The diversity was remarkable. But it also presented a complex leadership challenge: how do you create unity, motivation, and trust among people who come from such different worlds?
I was new in this leadership position, and for the first few weeks, I struggled. Despite my efforts, something was missing. The team members were not fully engaged, not hopeful, and not supportive. I could feel a quiet resistance — they were distant, disconnected, and unsure of me. They didn’t believe in me, and frankly, I could understand why. I hadn’t yet earned their trust.
This moment forced me to pause and reflect deeply.
A year earlier, I had graduated from the Institute for Leadership Development, where I was introduced to the powerful concept of servant leadership. That training taught me that leadership is not about control or power — it’s about serving others, building trust, and leading with empathy, compassion, and emotional intelligence.
So I asked myself: What if I stopped trying to lead from authority, and started leading from the heart?
From that moment forward, I changed everything. I made the conscious decision to lead with love — not in a romantic sense, but in the sense of genuine care, respect, humility, and kindness. I started listening more. I met each team member where they were. I showed that I valued them as human beings first — not just as staff.
I learned about their families, their aspirations, their struggles. I celebrated their strengths and supported their growth. I built a culture of trust and belonging, where people felt safe, respected, and inspired.
And something beautiful happened.
That distant team began to transform. Walls came down. Motivation returned. People began working not just for their jobs, but for each other. They smiled more. They helped each other. They believed in me — and more importantly, they believed in themselves. We became a team in the truest sense.
We delivered on our objectives — and beyond. But more than that, we created something rare and lasting: a community of purpose and trust. Our success came not from pressure or procedures, but from connection, compassion, and shared commitment.
That experience shaped me forever.
It taught me that true leadership doesn’t begin with a title or a strategy — it begins with love.
Because love builds trust. Trust builds teams. And teams built on love are unstoppable.
This realization became a core part of who I am and how I lead — not only in that role but in every role I’ve taken since. And that is why I’ve decided to write this book.
I want to share my journey — not as a perfect leader, but as someone who learned through experience that empathy is strength, and that love is the most powerful leadership tool we have. In a world full of division, uncertainty, and burnout, we need leaders who lead with heart — leaders who listen, who serve, and who care.
And that is why I decided to write this book — to share what I’ve learned, not from theory alone, but from real-life moments of challenge, reflection, and transformation. I’ve seen firsthand how leading with empathy, respect, and compassion can unlock the true potential of individuals and teams. My hope is that this book becomes more than just a story — that it becomes a guide, a companion, and a spark for anyone who wants to lead with purpose.
Because in today’s world — a world that often feels divided, fast-paced, and transactional — leadership rooted in love isn’t just powerful, it’s essential. It’s what brings humanity back into our workplaces. It’s what restores dignity to our relationships. It’s what empowers people not only to perform — but to flourish.
When we lead with love, we create spaces where people feel seen, heard, and valued.
We replace fear with trust.
We turn hierarchy into harmony.
We stop managing people — and start inspiring them.
Because when we lead with love, we don’t just build better teams — we build better workplaces, better communities, and ultimately, a better world.
That is the legacy I hope to contribute to — and the movement I invite you to join.