Nadia Lim joined our Women in Leadership meeting last week and shared with the group her thoughts on leading by example, enjoying the journey and the vital connection between cooking and health and happiness.
When asked about her management style, Nadia told us that it’s all about empowering people. She much prefers to give guidance and inspiration so people can make decisions for themselves, rather than dictating how things should be done. She credits her parents with having had a seminal influence on her, often citing her father’s words, “Don’t think of how you can be successful, just focus on how you can help others”. Success for her is seeing how many people she’s convinced to cook at home — and to take pride in the food they’ve prepared. She’s also passionate about the journey behind the plate and sustainability, as well as food being the focal point of the family.
The connection between cooking, health and happiness is best expressed by her Nude Food philosophy, which she summed up with this advice:
- Ignore fads and diets
- Eat real food that comes from the ground, sea or sky
- Do that 90% of the time (and just enjoy the other 10%!)
- Listen to your body and it will let you know what works for you.
And she also shared some top tips for budding entrepreneurs:
- Enjoy the journey, don’t just focus on the destination
- Take time to celebrate the little wins along the way
- Align your personal goals with your professional goals so a win in one area, doesn’t mean losing in the other.
Nadia Lim is a world-renowned kiwi cook, entrepreneur, media personality and mum. The university qualified dietitian shot to fame after winning the second series of MasterChef New Zealand in 2011.