'Everyone's Voice Matters': Chanel CEO Leena Nair On Compassionate Leadership

Nair discussed how kindness, empathy, and a dedication to listening to every voice in the room have been integral to shaping her approach to business

Leena Nair, Chanel's first CEO of Indian origin, recently shared a video on LinkedIn from her appearance at Stanford University's Graduate School of Business. In the video, Nair reflects on her leadership journey and the core values that have shaped her career.

During her conversation with Ayesha Karnik for the "View From The Top" series, Nair emphasised the importance of leading with empathy and compassion in the business world. She posted a brief excerpt of the discussion on LinkedIn, offering insights into her approach to leadership.

Reflecting on her leadership philosophy, Nair highlighted the importance of "compassionate leadership" as a powerful guiding principle. “Compassionate leadership was one of many topics discussed during my View From The Top interview at Stanford University Graduate School of Business,” Nair wrote in the caption of her post.

Nair discussed how kindness, empathy, and a dedication to listening to every voice in the room have been integral to shaping her approach to business.

“I truly believe in benevolence, in kindness, in compassion, in empathy. You’ve got to do tough things in business, but doing it compassionately is very important. If I am in a meeting, I want to listen to every voice in the room. I truly believe in collective intelligence. Everyone's voice matters. Not just the ones who can speak loudly, but everyone. Diverse perspectives matter to me,” she said.

Her advocacy for "collective intelligence" — a leadership style that values every perspective — challenged traditional models and inspired viewers.

“We don’t see enough role models like that. So for me, it really matters that I set a brand of leadership that’s about compassion and empathy,” she said.

About Leena Nair

Born in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Leena Nair’s journey from humble beginnings to the helm of the renowned French luxury brand Chanel is a testament to her exceptional leadership and determination. Throughout her career, she has broken barriers and achieved numerous milestones, becoming a trailblazer in the business world.

Before joining Chanel, Nair made history as the youngest-ever Chief Human Resources Officer at Unilever, where she played a pivotal role in shaping the company's global workforce strategy. Her impressive career has earned her widespread recognition, including being named one of *Fortune India’s Most Powerful Women* in 2021.