For Dr. Manida Xongmixay-Lau, Certified Hospitality Professional and VP of Business Solutions & Member Experience at Okada Manila, leadership isn’t about titles—it’s about heart.
Over the years, her career has spanned human resources, IT project management, and casino marketing. But it was the wisdom of two mentors that shaped her people-first leadership style—anchored in empathy, accountability, and purpose.
“I’ve had the privilege of learning from two remarkable mentors whose guidance shaped my leadership journey,” Dr. Manida shared in an interview with Financial Adviser PH.
One of them, Mrs. Linda Morgan, taught her that true leadership lives in the grey areas—where policy meets people. “While rules may draw the lines in black and white, compassion empowers us to navigate the grey with wisdom and heart,” she said.
In high-pressure industries like hospitality, where structure is essential, it’s easy to default to systems and processes. But Dr. Manida believes the most effective leaders are those who lead with emotional intelligence—those who understand when to uphold a rule, and when to pause and ask what someone really needs.
Another mentor, Mr. Bruce Himelfarb, helped reshape her definition of success. “Leadership is not defined by how high we climb the career ladder,” she recalled, “but by how firmly we build each step toward our purpose.”
That mindset—balancing ambition with meaning—has guided her through career pivots, management challenges, and industry transitions. And it’s a lesson she now passes on to rising leaders: structure is necessary, but humanity makes it sustainable.
Her advice? “Don’t just follow the rulebook. Understand the people you lead and why they matter,” she said. “That’s where real leadership begins.”
In an age of performance metrics and tight deadlines, Dr. Manida’s story is a reminder that compassion isn’t weakness—it’s a strategy. And often, it’s what turns good leaders into great ones.
