Kind Leadership

Leadership is often associated with vision, strategy and decision-making. But what if one of the most powerful leadership qualities is something rather unexpected: kindness? In a time when many professionals in the IHE field are navigating uncertainty and growing workloads, the way we lead and care for one another matters more than ever. This conversation is inspired by the life and legacy of Saskia Loer Hansen, a deeply respected colleague, mentor and friend whose warmth, generosity and approach to leadership left a lasting impression on countless people across our community. As we acknowledge World Kindness Day (13 November) around this time of the year, we also take a moment to remember Saskia and focus on one of the traits that made her special: kindness.

In this episode of the EAIE Podcast, host Laura Rumbley is joined by Kathy Daniels, Valentina Tchervenkova and Dino Willox to explore what it truly means to lead with kindness. Reflecting on Saskia’s influence and the lessons captured in a book dedicated to her memory, they discuss what kind leadership looks like in practice, why kindness belongs in professional conversations about leadership, and how it can help foster stronger teams and healthier workplace cultures. Tune in for a thoughtful conversation that reminds us that kindness is not a weakness in leadership, but one of its greatest strengths. 

About Kathy Daniels

Professor Kathy Daniels runs her own consultancy advising, writing and speaking about employment law. Her background is working in HR, with her becoming Head of HR in a large manufacturing business. She worked for many years at Aston University, where she is now an Emeritus Professor. Kathy has written an employment law textbook in its eighth edition, as well as several books on HR and higher education. She co-edited the book ‘How to Manage Kindly and Lead Effectively in Higher Education' with two colleagues from RMIT University in Australia, where she previously worked as a Visiting Professor. Kathy is a Chartered Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development and a Principal Fellow of the Higher Education Academy.

About Dino Willox

Dr Dino Willox is Director, Student Enrichment and Success at The University of Queensland (UQ), an elected member of UQ Senate, and a Principal Fellow of AdvanceHE. They develop and coordinate the strategic direction, framework and services that help students succeed on whatever path they choose. Dino is passionate about developing students’ self-reflective practice, enabling them to unlock and articulate the value of their lived experiences. Dino is also Co-Chair of the Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Group for Universitas 21 (U21), a global network of world-leading, research-intensive universities across six continents. Prior to moving to Australia, Dino was the Faculty Manager of Strathclyde Business School, Glasgow, and Head of Student Records and Postgraduate Registrar at Cardiff University. They were also a Board Member of Hockey Queensland and spent over a decade representing Wales, Great Britain, and Australia as a field hockey umpire in tournaments worldwide. Dino’s pronouns are they/them. 

About Valentina Chervenkova

Valentina Chervenkova is a public affairs and policy professional with over five years of experience working across the UK and Europe. Her background spans higher education, government relations, public policy and stakeholder engagement, including roles with Universities UK International and the UK Academy of Medical Sciences. She currently works in public affairs consulting in Bulgaria, advising organisations on policy, regulatory and stakeholder matters. Valentina holds an MSc in International Social and Public Policy from the London School of Economics and Political Science and a BSc in International Relations from Queen Mary University of London. Having lived and worked in both Bulgaria and the UK, she is particularly interested in cross-cultural leadership, effective people management and the role of trust, respect and adaptability in building successful professional relationships.

Additional resources

For further insights into the topics touched on in this episode, the following resources may be of interest:
→ How to Manage Kindly and Lead Effectively in Higher Education
→ Learning from the pandemic past to shape a new future
→ Don’t mistake my kindness for weakness: Leading with kindness to foster an inclusive environment