Today, in the midst of the human crisis our world is experiencing, we’re seeing global leaders step up and inspire their communities to swift and decisive action. We’re also witnessing the absence of this amongst other leaders. But whether strong or weak, leadership is a theme at the forefront.

Leadership exists at all levels. Some leaders rally nations, while others rally neighborhood groups. Some deliver grandiose speeches to the millions, while others simply deliver meals to those in need.

Regardless of the scale or type of audience they lead, all great leaders have something in common — they understand and inspire people. They are ‘people persons.’

My mom falls into this group. I’ve often talked, as you know, about her special way with people. How she developed this I will never truly know — it is unique and rare, unfathomable to me in a way — and can’t be pinned down to one or two specific traits; but her empathy, her ability and desire to listen, her thoughtfulness, and her caring for others all certainly contributed.

It was an awareness of this way with people, combined with a deserve to serve, which led my mom to seek out many leadership opportunities throughout her life.

Today I’d like to share a few of those opportunities. I’ll be honest — I don’t have a lot of detail about what I’m about to share (yes, I’m aware that sounds odd). Usually my brainstorming for my blog posts goes as follows: I get an idea for a theme, I think about examples to substantiate that theme, and then I flesh out the details of those examples.

This time, I came up with the idea, and I came up with examples, but then I realized it basically ended there. Mainly because I was much younger when they played out and I have a pretty terrible memory. While I could’ve ask my family members — most especially my dad — to weigh in, I’ve largely opted not to this time. Why? One, the broader theme is more pertinent than the details of the examples. The examples serve to show the breadth and range of my mom’s leadership — you’ll see how she led such diverse groups and types of organizations. And two: Mainly because I like to keep this blog a recollection of my thoughts and memories because it’s kind of like my journal about my mom. Sometimes I ask my family to help me recall details, but today I just felt like writing from my own thoughts.

All that to say — some of you reading might recall more detail than I do on these examples, and if that’s the case, do share! I get a lot out of you offering your thoughts in response to my posts and us getting to talk about them, which often results to me learning new things about my mom.

Okay, I’ve been rambling long enough. Let’s take a look at a few of the times my mom stepped up as a leader:

1. When she led my Brownie Girl Scout troop. Okay, case in point of me having zero detail. I actually can’t remember a thing about this one; a couple years back I just happened to come across a photo of her with my Girl Scout troop and realized that she had been the leader. The picture I’d found (and unfortunately couldn’t find again to share) was taken in Taiwan, but I did Girl Scouts prior to Taiwan in Connecticut as well, so it’s possible she took on a leading role then as well.

   While I might not remember it, I like this example though because of what it demonstrates: her involvement with Sanam, Nikhil, and my activities. She did this often and regularly throughout our schooling years. While no doubt I would’ve taken it for granted at the time, I recognize now what a show of love it was.

2. When she led the Ruby Hill Gourmet Club. The Gourmet Club was a club in Ruby Hill (our neighborhood in Pleasanton) that my parents took part in. Every month or however often, couples in the club would gather at a host couple’s home to have dinner. Each pair attending would be given a recipe to make — an appetizer, side, or dessert — and the host would make the main course.

   The Gourmet Club was a great way to get to know other residents in the neighborhood over a meal. At one point, my mom stepped up to co-lead the club, which involved driving participation, organizing the dinners, and selecting recipes for members to cook.

   As a kid, I was never involved in these dinners. I just know that my parents hosted on occasion in our formal dining room and sometimes Sanam, Nikhil, and I got to sneak in some of the good food.

3. When she led the Tri-Valley Indian Association. When we moved to Pleasanton, we joined this association to get to know other families in the Tri-Valley (Pleasanton and the neighboring cities of Dublin and Livermore) and connect around our shared culture.

   A little later, my mom became President of the association, which included hundreds of members. My dad told me she specifically had been asked to lead because committee members thought she’d make a great leader, and that she was even hesitant because of how political some of the others were — and catty politics was not something she had plans to get involved in. Nevertheless, she had a strong desire to help, and so stepped into this role and managed to oversee this large organization with poise and grace for a couple years.

   The most vibrant memory I have of participating in TVIA was for the annual Diwali celebration, the biggest event on the TVIA calendar. It was a dinner and series of performances attended by hundreds across the Tri-Valley.

   Each year, my mom got us to participate in the most cringe-worthy — yes, even my mom would say so — play about the story of Diwali. Every year this aunty lady directed, and gosh she was hilariously terrible at being a director. She even made us tape record our lines one year and we just lip-synced to them on stage. It was 100% obvious that a recording was being played and literally no one attempted to hide this. I believe this was the year that Sanam narrated the whole play too — I should dig up the video recording my dad took; you’ll be in for a real treat.)

4. When she led her Bible Study. About seven or eight years ago, my mom led a Bible Study small group for ten or so adult women in Pleasanton. I have only a little to say about this one because I wasn’t part of the Bible Study and can’t actually remember conversations I had with her about it. That said, the reason I wanted to bring up this example is to highlight her desire to serve as a spiritual leader — a significant and meaningful role — and grow in her own faith journey.
5. When she led Gateway, an organization in Taipei to help newcomers get settled in. I’m going to let this article, which warms my heart, do the talking:

   

I conclude, simply, with a brief and fitting quote from the American general Douglas MacArthur:

“A true leader has the confidence to stand alone, the courage to make tough decisions, and the compassion to listen to the needs of others. He does not set out to be a leader, but becomes one by the equality of his actions and the integrity of his intent.”

Now that’s a people person.