When scaling a cause, should you pick passionate volunteers or capable ones?

Most instinctively say passion. But Uma Thana Balasingam’s journey scaling Lean In Singapore to 7,000+ members tells a different story.

Here’s the hard truth she discovered: Passionate people don’t always make great leaders. When she and her co-founder started delegating leadership roles to their most committed volunteers, they hit a wall. Leading a movement isn’t just about heart - it’s a skill. Managing complexity, making tough calls, and leading others require more than just good intentions.

The dilemma?

• Capable people execute brilliantly but often vanish when things get tough.
• Passionate people stay committed but can struggle with execution.

Early on, you don't have the luxury of choice - you work with whoever shows up.

But as you scale, the reality sets in:

• Passion without execution creates chaos.
• Execution without passion creates emptiness.

You need both.

In the latest How to Live podcast, Uma and I unpack this challenge. From founding Lean In Singapore to leadership roles at VTech, Dell, and IBM, to now building Elevate to champion women across Asia - she's lived this tension between passion and capability.

If you're wrestling with turning your purpose into impact, this conversation is for you.

Episode Shownotes
https://howtolive.life/episode/088-turning-purpose-into-action-with-Uma-balasingam

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