# #18 - Arvashni Seeripat - Why kindness is a leadership superpower

Page: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484/18-arvashni-seeripat-why-kindness-is-a-leadership-superpower
Text version: https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484/18-arvashni-seeripat-why-kindness-is-a-leadership-superpower.md
Podcast: [The Whole Truth: Leadership Stories with Sarah Perugia](https://stenobird.com/podcast/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484)
Published: 2026-05-11T14:00:00+00:00
Episode link: https://www.sarahperugia.com/
Audio file: https://episodes.captivate.fm/episode/f2243a82-9a41-4e72-8bac-81d359d26595.mp3
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JSON: https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/the-whole-truth-leadership-stories-with-sarah-perugia-7098484/episodes/18-arvashni-seeripat-why-kindness-is-a-leadership-superpower
Duration seconds: 2589

## Resource

Arvashni Seeripat is the President of Averitas Pharma, an award-winning author, and a passionate advocate for kindness in leadership. Known for her thoughtful perspective and powerful storytelling, Arvashni challenges the traditional belief that toughness is the only path to success in the corporate world. In this episode, we explore a powerful question: Is kindness a weakness in the boardroom, or could it actually be a leadership superpower? Arvashni shares how she has stayed deeply aligned with her values throughout her career, even when operating in environments where authenticity and empathy were not always the norm. Growing up in apartheid South Africa profoundly shaped her commitment to equality and inclusion. Those early experiences continue to influence how she leads today, creating cultures where people feel seen, respected, and empowered to thrive. We talk about making brave career decisions, the value of sideways moves, and the experience of building a career across countries and cultures. Arvashni also shares a powerful question every leader should ask when stepping into a new role: “What am I leaving behind?” In this episode, we talk about: 00:00 – Why kindness belongs in business 03:26 – The evolution of modern leadership 06:18 – Discovering and naming your core values 11:02 – Growing up in apartheid South Africa 15:26 – How women approach ambition and leadership roles 17:00 – From go-to expert to strategic leader 22:55 – When helping your team can start to hold them back 23:32 – Courageous career moves and self-belief 29:18 – Equality, injustice, and moving forward without vengeance 33:22 – Advice to her younger self: no job too big or too small 36:17 – Be the change you want to see in the world Arvashni combines deep business insight with the principles…

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