Chanel CEO Advocates For Compassionate Leadership

Leena Nair, Chanel's British-Indian CEO and the first of Indian origin to lead the iconic French luxury brand, recently shared insights into her leadership values and personal journey at Stanford University’s Graduate School of Business. In an engaging discussion with Ayesha Karnik, host of Stanford’s "View From The Top" series, Nair delved into her commitment to compassionate leadership, a theme she later highlighted on LinkedIn.

In the shared video clip, Nair spoke on the essential role of empathy in business, emphasising the need to balance tough decisions with kindness and respect for all perspectives. “I truly believe in benevolence, in kindness, in compassion, in empathy,” Nair remarked, stressing that leadership involves not just directive authority but fostering an environment where each voice contributes to "collective intelligence."

Raised in Kolhapur, Maharashtra, Nair’s path to Chanel began with a degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from Walchand College, followed by an MBA in HR from XLRI Jamshedpur. Before Chanel, she served as Unilever’s youngest and first female Chief Human Resources Officer.