On 19th February, students in our Global Leadership Initiative 2024-25 cohort participated in a one-of-a-kind Kintsugi workshop led by Tiffany Tompson, a certified Kintsugi instructor, award-winning songwriter, singer, writer, and community leader. The one-hour workshop went beyond a creative exercise – it presented a unique opportunity to explore leadership through the lens of self-compassion and vulnerability. Tiffany encouraged participants to embrace their imperfections, not as weaknesses but as essential parts of their growth, fostering a leadership style rooted in authenticity and emotional depth.
Kintsugi, meaning “golden joinery,” is the ancient Japanese art of mending broken ceramics with lacquer infused with gold. Rather than hiding the cracks, Kintsugi highlights them, transforming each fracture into a celebratory symbol of resilience and renewal. During the workshop, participants carefully gathered shattered ceramics, cleaned them, and reassembled them using golden lacquer. The slow, intentional process became a powerful metaphor for leadership, showing that true strength lies not in appearing flawless but in embracing challenges, learning from setbacks, and emerging stronger.
GLI student Nate, MBA, shared his reflections: "I appreciated the shift from discussion to creative action, especially the attention to how we interacted with our objects—everything from the energy of breaking them to the nature of the pieces and the experience of handling the process individually and collectively."
With a passion for Kintsugi and its ties to music and storytelling, Tiffany inspired participants to see imperfection not as a flaw but as a source of beauty and strength. She emphasised that patience, acceptance, and perseverance—the core principles of Kintsugi—are also the foundations of good leadership.
In a world that often pressures us to conceal our flaws, Kintsugi offers a radical reframe: our imperfections are not failures but growth markers. As students left the workshop, they carried with them a powerful realisation—leading with love means embracing the cracks, finding strength in vulnerability, and creating something even more meaningful from life’s challenges. Learn more about Tiffany’s work at https://tiffanythompsonmusic.com/kintsugi