Leading Well: Science, Soul and Filipino Wisdom | Jackie Caniza | TEDxMakati

Quick Overview

Leading well requires integrating the science of the brain with the heritage of culture, viewing strength as asking for help, resilience as communal, and valuing spaces of belonging like family and home, which ultimately drives both human well-being and business performance.

Key Points: The speaker initially pursued a corporate leadership mold requiring toughness and emotional suppression, exemplified by driving to a crucial presentation while bleeding heavily, only to be laid off weeks later. Vulnerability provided strength during stage three breast cancer treatment; the speaker asked children to shave her head and friends to host a "chemo shower," realizing vulnerability gives others permission to support. Science confirms vulnerability's benefit, noting that social connection calms the amygdala, the brain's fear center, and Filipino wisdom defines human-centered leadership as a 'pomuno' (tree) rooted in values. During a depression diagnosis, the speaker's team intervened, forcing a break and demonstrating collective leadership, which the speaker connects to the Filipino concept of 'kapwa' (shared identity) and science’s 'interbrain neural synchronization'. The speaker rebranded her team as 'balai' (home) during the pandemic, fostering a space where directness and deep care coexist, which research shows creates a healthier, more resilient brain state. Applying human-centered leadership to a major corporate brand resulted in team members reporting leaders as more compassionate, inclusive, and empowering, leading to a 24% improvement in internal Net Promoter Score and 14% business growth.

Context: Jackie Caniza shares her evolution as a leader, contrasting the rigid, strength-focused mold of her early corporate career—highlighted by an instance where she presented while severely ill—with a human-centered approach informed by neuroscience and Filipino cultural wisdom. After leaving the corporate world, she built a coaching business and managed a mental health company, leading to deep insights about vulnerability, collective support, and creating environments of belonging.