From transforming workspaces and businesses to fostering cultures of growth and resilience, these individuals demonstrate that effective leadership is not just about decisions made at the top, but the meaningful connections and transformative impacts they inspire along the way.
Lorna Whiston Schools is an educational institution in Singapore and Malaysia that’s dedicated to enriching the lives of children through high-quality education for over four decades. The organisation specialises in language enrichment, speech and drama programmes, as well as early childhood education, fostering critical thinking and creativity. As Group CEO, Don Poh reveals that he currently oversees a talented team of over 150 educators, administrators, and support staff across multiple locations. His role involves setting the strategic vision, ensuring operational excellence while nurturing a culture of innovation and collaboration within the organisation.
Share more about your leadership journey. What are the pivotal moments that shaped your approach to leadership?
One of the most pivotal moments in my leadership journey has been the effort to reshape Lorna Whiston Schools back to its original roots and mission from when it was first established 43 years ago. When I stepped into the role of Group CEO, I recognised the need to realign the organisation with its founding principles – delivering excellence in education and fostering creativity, confidence, and a love for learning in every child. This process required revisiting our core values, streamlining operations, and revitalising our programmes to stay true to our purpose while remaining relevant in today’s educational landscape.
At the same time, my approach to leadership has been shaped by earlier experiences, such as leading a challenging organisational restructuring. That experience taught me the importance of empathy, transparent communication, and rallying teams around a shared vision – lessons that became instrumental in my work at Lorna Whiston. Through this journey, I’ve learned that leadership is about honouring a legacy while being adaptable, innovative, and forward-thinking, ensuring the organisation remains impactful for future generations.
How would you define effective leadership in today’s business environment? What do you think works and what doesn’t?
Effective leadership in today’s business environment is about striking a balance between vision and adaptability. Leaders must set a clear direction while remaining agile in the face of rapid changes and challenges. In my view, what works is a collaborative leadership style that fosters trust, open communication, and a sense of ownership within the team. It’s essential to empower individuals to take initiative, embrace innovation, and contribute meaningfully to the organisation’s success.
What doesn’t work is a rigid, hierarchical approach where decision-making is centralised and team input is undervalued. In a world that demands speed, creativity, and inclusivity, leaders who fail to adapt or engage their teams risk stagnation. Ultimately, effective leadership is about inspiring others, building strong relationships, and ensuring that the organisation remains relevant and resilient in a constantly evolving landscape.
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What strategies or practices have you found most effective in nurturing leadership potential within your organisation?
At Lorna Whiston Schools, nurturing leadership potential begins with creating a culture of empowerment and continuous learning. One of the most effective strategies we employ is personalised mentorship, where experienced leaders guide and support emerging talent in their professional journeys. We also prioritise professional development by providing access to training programmes, workshops, and opportunities to take on new responsibilities.
Another key practice is fostering a collaborative environment where individuals feel encouraged to share ideas, take initiative, and embrace challenges. We believe in the power of recognition – acknowledging contributions and celebrating achievements to build confidence and motivation. Additionally, we promote cross-functional exposure, allowing team members to gain diverse perspectives and develop a broader understanding of the organization.
By cultivating an atmosphere of trust, growth, and innovation, we ensure that our leaders of tomorrow are well-equipped to drive the organisation forward.
Can you give us an example of a leadership challenge you’ve faced and how did you overcome it?
One of the key challenges I faced was restoring Lorna Whiston Schools to its rightful place as the industry leader in quality education and a pioneer in 21st-century learning methodologies. This required enhancing our programmes to better equip students with the skills needed for the modern world, while staying true to the institution’s foundational values.
To overcome this, I focused on aligning the organisation with its original vision, ensuring our teaching approaches were updated to emphasise critical thinking, creativity, and communication – skills essential for success in the 21st century. We introduced targeted enhancements to our existing programmes, integrating modern learning strategies and tools while maintaining the high standards that parents and students have come to expect from us.
Additionally, I prioritised professional development for our educators, empowering them to adapt to evolving teaching practices. By fostering collaboration, maintaining transparent communication with stakeholders, and staying committed to innovation, we successfully strengthened the organisation’s reputation and re-established its position as a leader in education.
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"In a world that demands speed, creativity, and inclusivity, leaders who fail to adapt or engage their teams risk stagnation."
What are the new rules you’ve added to your leadership playbook, in response to the changes in how people do business?
In today’s evolving business landscape, I’ve added several key principles to my leadership playbook to adapt to changing expectations and practices:
1. People-first mindset: Prioritising the well-being of our team and fostering a culture of empathy and inclusivity. This includes understanding individual needs and providing the flexibility to balance personal and professional lives.
2. Agility and adaptability: Embracing change as a constant and cultivating the ability to pivot strategies quickly to meet new challenges or opportunities.
3. Data-driven decision-making: Leveraging insights from data to inform strategic choices while remaining attuned to the human element of decision-making.
4. Continuous innovation: Encouraging creativity and embracing new ideas to remain at the forefront of the education sector, while being unafraid to challenge traditional methods.
5. Transparent communication: Building trust through open, honest dialogue with all stakeholders, including employees, parents, and students.
How do you see leadership roles evolving in the next few years? What traits or skills will be most important?
Leadership roles will continue to evolve to meet the demands of an increasingly dynamic and interconnected world. In the next few years, leaders will need to be more adaptive and future-focused, embracing change as a constant and steering organisations with agility. The ability to navigate technological advancements, such as AI and digital transformation, will be critical.
Traits like emotional intelligence, empathy, and cultural awareness will also become more vital as teams grow more diverse and operate in global contexts. Leaders will need to foster inclusivity, build strong relationships, and empower teams to innovate collaboratively.
At Lorna Whiston Schools, we are committed to cultivating future leaders by ensuring our students and team members are empowered with the confidence and skills needed to thrive in the 21st century. Our focus on creativity, critical thinking, communication, and collaboration not only prepares our students for success but also helps to shape the traits that will define effective leadership in the future. Leadership will increasingly centre around purpose-driven strategies that align with the values of team members and stakeholders, ensuring organisations thrive in both performance and impact.
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