The leadership skill No One Teaches

“The greatest gift you can give someone is your time.”
What if true leadership wasn’t about force or control—but softness, humility, and heart? In this episode, Steve Ramona sits down with Professor Rao, a storyteller, researcher, and survivor, to explore the power of soft leadership—a style rooted in vulnerability, emotional intelligence, and service.

Rao opens up about growing up in a toxic environment, suffering a life‑altering stroke, and still choosing to rise. He tells us the moment he realized leadership was more about being human first than being powerful. He guides us through stories of students lost to suicide, and how that pain led him to write See the Light in You—a beacon for those struggling to find worth.

Along the way you’ll learn how Rao has trained over 50,000 leaders, his bold vision to shape one million by 2030, and his conviction that quiet acts of service can move mountains. Steve and Rao unpack:

Why leadership in 2025 demands emotional fluency more than technical acumen

The daily habits that rewire the “monkey mind” and anchor us in presence

What entrepreneurship really asks of the heart, not just the mind

How volunteering, even in small ways, sharpens your leadership muscle

If you’ve ever felt pressure to perform, wear a mask, or lead from a place of command, this episode offers a different path—one where strength is born of gentleness, and influence grows from service.

P.S. Choose one small act of kindness or leadership today. That tiny seed may bloom into your greatest impact yet.

Guest Bio

Professor Rao is a researcher, storyteller, and author of 55 books whose life narrative embodies soft leadership. Raised in a toxic environment, he faced serious health challenges after a stroke in 2021 that left his right side partially paralyzed. Yet he didn’t surrender to limitation—he adapted, learned, and began gifting back through writing, speaking, and training. Rao has impacted over 50,000 students, writes prolifically on leadership and mindfulness, and carries a bold vision: to help raise one million heart‑led leaders by 2030.
Amazon: http://www.amazon.com/M.-S.-Rao/e/B00MB63BKM
Vision 2030: https://professormsraovision2030.blogspot.com
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/professormsrao
Substack: https://professormsrao.substack.com
X: http://twitter.com/professormsrao
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ProfessorMSRao
Meta: https://www.facebook.com/Professor-MS-Rao-451516514937414
See the Light in You: https://www.amazon.com/See-Light-You-Spiritual-Mindfulness/dp/1949003132

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