This is what purposeful leadership and community impact looks like 

Collaboration, trust, community, together, teamwork, reliability.  

These are some of the words used by participants to sum up their project for the Kampung Bukit Dagang community in south Malaysia. 

We tasked 34 professionals on an INSEAD Singapore Executive Education Leadership Programme to build a multi-sports arena and seating in a day. 

The facility will support social engagement and physical activity among the residents, 20 of whom got stuck in and supported the INSEAD team to create the equipment which will benefit them for years to come. 

Learning objectives

The participants’ perceptions of leadership were challenged and the tasks we gave them enabled them to consider: 

• A strategic mindset and global business acumen – working together to strategise in an unfamiliar environment. 

• Purposeful leadership – putting people and management skills to the test. 

• Practical tools and concepts – equipping participants with skills to lead successfully in complex situations. 

Community spirit

The project promoted the spirit of ‘gotong royong’ – working together for the greater good.

Nana von Bernuth, Programme Director at INSEAD Executive Education, said:

“We made miracles happen – the day before we brought 34 professionals to Singapore, in the evening they had a briefing about the project and the day afterwards they made the unbelievable happen.

“Purpose is one of the most important considerations when you lead in a complex world – and I don’t know what could be more purposeful than what they achieved in one day.”