“The best leaders don’t need new buzzwords. They need clarity, courage, and care for their people.” – Sharad Lal
For some, leadership is a title. For Sharad Lal, it’s a journey. Growing up in a small town in India in the 1980s, he recalls overcoming the odds of his “small world” to achieve academic excellence and, subsequently, professional success. Relocating to Singapore, working with multinational corporations, and successfully starting and scaling six ventures—including a successful exit from a digital agency acquired by a global player—Lal recalls that he was “winning”.
That is, until a profound personal loss, in which he lost his wife and newborn twins in a tragic accident, led him to re-evaluate what mattered in life. “I remember sitting alone one night, surrounded by all the symbols of success— trophies, luxury goods, certificates—and asking, do these really matter? That sent me on a journey to figure out how to live life,” he says.
This turning point led Lal to a deeper exploration of purpose and meaning, and eventually to the founding of The How to Live Company, a platform offering leadership development through coaching, workshops, and keynotes. He also hosts The How to Live Podcast, now ranked in the top three per cent globally and heard in over 140 countries.
As a coach and adviser, he has worked with more than 50 C-suite leaders and founders, delivering over 50 leadership programmes and earning hundreds of testimonials. He also established ChandniKumarLal.Org, a non-profit mentorship initiative that has helped over 500 individuals secure roles at companies including Google, Uber, and Bloomberg.
Who do you turn to when you need perspective?
I turn to a few trusted voices: mentors, close friends, and my coach. People who know me well enough to challenge me and care enough to do it gently. But I also turn inward. Often, the best advice surfaces after I’ve journalled, sat quietly with a question, or gone for a long walk. Stillness can be a powerful teacher.
The best advice you’ve received?
“Focus on the journey, not the destination.” I didn’t fully understand it at first. But over time, I’ve come to believe it’s the key to building a life that’s both meaningful and sustainable. If you stay aligned, with your values, your energy, your purpose, you’ll eventually end up where you’re meant to be. And you’ll actually enjoy the ride.
How has your idea of success evolved?
Earlier, I defined success by external markers: company size, client logos, net worth. I chased those goals hard and hit them. But after my personal loss, I looked around at all I had built and felt empty. Today, success means living in alignment with my values. It means doing work that feels meaningful, not just impressive. It means nurturing deep relationships, not just big achievements. I still care about impact, but now I define it differently. It’s about depth, not scale.
If you could change one thing about your industry, what would it be?
I’d strip out the jargon and buzzwords. Too much leadership work hides simple human truths behind acronyms and slides. The best leaders don’t need new buzzwords. They need clarity, courage, and care for their people. I’d bring the work back to timeless basics: listen deeply, tell the truth, align your actions with your values, and help others grow. Say it in plain language so busy leaders can actually live it.
What’s a lesson that you learnt the hard way?
I learnt the hard way that emotional suppression isn’t strength, it’s avoidance. After the tragic incident, I tried to stay composed. I kept busy, showed up, powered through. But inside, I was stuck. It wasn’t until I allowed myself to fully feel, to break down, to be vulnerable, that I began to heal. That moment changed everything. I now see emotion as a guide, not a weakness. Resilience, for me, begins with surrender, not control.
Photography by Eugene Lee of Enfinite / Hair & Makeup by Sophia Soh of Suburbs Studio
