Change is one of the few things we can always count on — yet as leaders, we often spend a great deal of energy trying to manage it, predict it or protect ourselves and our teams from it.
But what if we approached change differently?
What if change wasn’t something to fear or simply react to, but something we could harness as a leadership superpower?
In my latest episode of Inspirational Leadership, I had the pleasure of speaking with Ashwini Balasubramanian, VP of R&D at 3M and author of Map Your Ascent: Embracing Change as Your Leadership Superpower. With 23 years of experience leading global teams across technology, product innovation and corporate strategy, Ashwini brings a fascinating perspective on what it takes to lead through constant change and uncertainty.
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Leadership Begins With Looking Inward
One of the things I particularly enjoyed about my conversation with Ashwini was her belief that navigating change begins with understanding ourselves.
She shared her 3P framework: Personality, Perspectives and Presence.
Our personality and upbringing influence the beliefs we carry into leadership. Some of those beliefs serve us well, while others may have outlived their usefulness.
Ashwini shared a powerful example from her own leadership journey. She once believed that being strong meant having all the answers and not needing help. Over time, she realized that asking for help is actually a sign of strength — and can build greater trust with the people around us.
It’s a great reminder that leadership development isn’t always about learning something new. Sometimes, it’s about letting go of something we once believed we needed to be a good leader.
Hold Strong Opinions Loosely
Ashwini also talked about the importance of allowing our perspectives to evolve.
We can have strong opinions while still being open to new information, different experiences and perspectives that challenge our thinking. This curiosity and flexibility are increasingly important for leaders working in complex, global and rapidly changing environments.
And it made me think about how closely this connects to emotional intelligence.
Being able to pause, look inward, challenge our assumptions and remain open to another perspective requires self-awareness, curiosity and a willingness to grow.
Lead Through Influence, Not Just Authority
Another theme that stood out to me was Ashwini’s perspective on generosity in leadership.
Generosity isn’t about being nice all the time or avoiding difficult conversations. It’s about giving candid feedback, sharing credit, creating opportunities for others, making introductions and helping people succeed without always expecting something in return.
As Ashwini put it, generosity builds trust — and trust creates performance.
The strongest leaders aren’t focused solely on their own success. They’re thinking about how they can leave people better than they found them.
Your Leadership Legacy Isn’t About Being Indispensable
Perhaps one of my favourite ideas from our conversation was the distinction between being indispensable and building capability.
As leaders, it can feel good to be the person everyone relies on. But if everything falls apart when we leave, what have we really built?
Great leadership is about developing people, creating sustainable capability and preparing others to succeed without us.
Your goal shouldn’t be to make yourself indispensable.
It should be to build something that continues to thrive after you’re gone.
Change isn’t going away. The question is how we choose to meet it.
And perhaps the most powerful place to begin isn’t with the change happening around us, but with the person we’re becoming as we lead through it.
About Ashwini Balasubramanian
Ashwini Balasubramanian is VP of R&D at 3M and author of Map Your Ascent: Embracing Change as Your Leadership Superpower. She has 23 years of experience leading global teams across technology, product innovation and corporate strategy and is a keynote speaker on ESG and leadership topics worldwide. Connect on LinkedIn and Learn more about Ashwini’s work here.
Let’s Connect:
If this episode spoke to you, I’d love to hear from you!
And if you’re interested in exploring ways we can work together—through leadership coaching, team development, or speaking at your next event—please reach out. You can reach me at kristen@kristenharcourt.com
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