If the quintessence of the phrase `strong and successful modern woman' can be incarnated into a human figurine, it will be the replica of Rhea Leckie who has amazed the world with her efficacious professional career. Single-handedly raised by a strong mother to emerge as a triumphant professional, Rhea inherits her love for independence, courage and resilience from her mother and grandmother. Belonging to a strong ancestry of women who didn't give into the conventional norms and the rules of their age, Rhea reflected the same sturdiness while dealing with the challenges in her own life. Voyaging through different geographical locations across the globe, Rhea has successfully demonstrated her phenomenal leadership skills across every corporate platform she has been associated with, before finally plunging into entrepreneurship. She leveraged her boardroom expertise to craft her brainchild CorporateDNA which specializes in offering Culture Transformation, Leadership Development, Talent Development, L&D, and Executive coaching, and under her guidance, the firm emerged as a national semi-finalist for the HSBC UK, 2009 business awards. Apart from being a prolific industry stalwart, Rhea identifies herself as a family person who loves spending time with her husband and son. She takes pride in being a mother to her five-year-old son who is blossoming into a fine human under the amalgamation of Rhea's leadership and motherhood skills.

Rhea engages in an exclusive interaction with the Woman Entrepreneur magazine.

Share some of the key business lessons that you've picked up on your way while paving your path towards becoming an industry leader?

My earliest memories belong to my family, grandparents, teachers, and mentors, who have had played a significant role in crafting the present-day Rhea. As I grew older, I learned to trust and be trusted, simultaneously cultivating my flair to embrace the truth. It is the sacred partnership of trust and truth in consulting, that helps the clients with the hard right rather than the easy wrong. With a strong sense of courageous ownership of the truth, we assist the clients to accept the truth and then shift towards it. Holding ourselves accountable for our client's never-ending trust, I apply this strategy in every walk of my life.

The second concept which I believe is keeping things real, in the world of big words, fancy concepts and buzzwords. It's not only important to have a sense of integrity but also a sense of courage to keep it real. To make leadership real we have always believed in `Five Hs', which is head, heart, hunch, hands and habits. So basically, `Head' is about the quality of thinking, `Heart' deals with the quality of relationships and emotions, `Hunch' defines the power of your own intuition, `Hand' is for taking action, and lastly, `Habit' is about repeated rituals, so that, you sustain all the great things over time. This concept of `Five Hs' has been a life lesson, that I've applied in business and received a lot of compliments from our clients, who also want to implement this concept across their business as well.

What rudimentary aspects do you keep in mind while coaching women across the present competitive domain?

The world is moving into inclusion in a very integrated way. So, for me, it's less about men versus women, or gender being the main identity, but rather this power of intersectionality, where multiple identities seem to intersect in the same woman. Being a British Indian woman, who is also a single childand has grown through the sieves of 26 cultures, I can pragmatically relate to the very definition of intersectionality. The nuances of the intersectionality belonging to different identities are something that we bring to our programs a lot and I think this kind of intersectionality of multiple identities in the same woman is something that I'm trying to give present, via our coaching, training, and facilitation programs for women.

“For me it's less about men versus women, or gender being the main identity, but rather this power of intersectionality, where multiple identities seem to intersecting in the same woman.”

What steps do you take to keep yourself well-aligned with the periodic shifts that the present industry is going through?

Being an avid reader, I read adherently to remain abreast with the recent trends of the digital space. I'm also a very strong connector who loves to connect with people adding value to our partnership, such as digital allies, partners, or joint ventures. We managed to grow 3x during COVID by implementing a dynamic strategy and going virtual overnight, which, honestly, is another achievement for us. I owe my success to my team who remain updated with latest industry trends and embraced the challenges, even when I was quite vulnerable and nervous about how do we make this transition happen.

As a successful business leader with vast industry experience, what advice would you present to young women and girls who aspire to become business leaders or entrepreneurs in the future? First, I will advise them to invest their time and resilience in their journey to find their purpose, and not to give up until they find it. I think people give up because they're looking for a shortcut or in the fear of getting judged by the world. Give yourself the freedom, the time and the patience to find your purpose without looking for external validation and trust your purpose once you find it.

Secondly, don't worry about being lonely, or a misfit. I think the amazing people who have changed the world or trying to change the world and make a difference are often lonely, to begin with. The most beautiful part is to go with your conviction and not comply with the pressure of fitting in quickly. Lean into that loneliness, because that's where you can make the real magic happen till you find others who believe in you.

Lastly, after finding your purpose, find your collaborators and allies soon. In your life, you may not have all the answers but a collaborator or a well-wisher may have the answers that you don't have. But then again, it's not just about the right network but also the right intention, which will enable you to choose those collaborators and allies who are willing to believe and invest in you.

Rhea Leckie, Founder & CEO, Corporatedna

Born in London, and having spent formative years in India Rhea has worked and lived in over 20 countries through her career. An MBA, a neuroscience practitioner, a qualified accredited executive coach, and inspirational speaker, Rhea has also authored a book ­`Leadership. It's in your DNA' published by Bloomsbury. A former director at PricewaterhouseCoopers UK where she was appointed as one of their youngest, Rhea has a consistent track record of working with management boards for over 20 years, including Chairmen, CEOs, HRDs and high performing teams throughout her illustrative career.