Leading Through Change
In this edition of "Leaders at Equinix: Empower, Elevate, & Evolve," we have the privilege of delving into the leadership insights of Grace Khor, Vice President, Legal, Global Contracts at Equinix. Grace shares her experiences and lessons learned as a leader, emphasizing the importance of communication, a global outlook and fostering a united and successful team. Join us as we gain valuable insights from Grace's leadership journey at Equinix.
Reflecting on her hardest leadership lesson, Grace highlights the significance of continuous communication, being accessible and visibly leading through change. To ensure she stays on track, Grace now sets reminders to check in with a variety of people. She states, "My biggest challenge in this global role, and leading through change, is to spend enough time to truly connect with people in different regions. Obviously, time zones, limited time and budgets make it hard to spend quality time with everyone as I would like, but I have learned to maximize the quality of each interaction even if the quantity is limited." Despite the challenges of a global role, she recognizes the importance of connecting with individuals in different regions and understanding how cultural differences and local conditions impact customer, supplier and team reactions, decision-making and deal closures.
Valuable Resources
When asked about the most impactful book, podcast, or leadership course she has learned from, Grace says there are so many it's hard to choose! She mentions Equinix's Archimedes management training course which she attended several years ago. She highlights that the exercise on writing a Mission Statement helped her prioritize her time and focus on what truly matters. Additionally, she finds value in reflection and in immersing herself in content such as the McKinsey, Nike Training, and BBC Outlook podcasts. The others she dips into include Prof G, Unearthed, Freakonomics, and Revisionist History. She enjoys plugging in and walking along Singapore's East Coast Parkway with the sea breeze blowing and listening to podcasts.
The Power of Listening
Grace learned from a key mentor about the transformative power and importance of listening in managing a large team. She emphasizes the significance of actively carving out time to hear what people are thinking, seeing and feeling at all levels. By listening to the team, she gains valuable insights and ensures thoughtful decision-making and an approach that benefits the entire team. Grace encourages seeking advice and feedback and creating an environment where everyone is able to freely share, feels heard and important. She says, "Listening to the team sounds so simple, but it's so impactful. I know I benefit from this and feel heard even if the result is not what I wanted. I hope I give people that same feeling now of being heard - of being important - to the team."
Legacy as a Leader
Grace believes her team would describe her as someone who is passionate. empathetic and cares about their success and well-being. In addition to excellence in domain knowledge, skills and efficiency, she prioritizes empowering the team to get things done, uniting the team and providing the necessary resources for their work, growth and development.
Her goal is to help the team enjoy their work and feel a personal sense of accomplishment. Grace fosters a positive and fun environment, encouraging the team to like what they do and excel in their roles. She creates space for humor to deal with the stress the team faces, and team meetings kick off with time for jokes and personal updates. She says, "The ultimate aim is to encourage our team to like what they do and just do it! The global contracts world has continued to evolve and that won’t stop soon, and I hope the team can see our commitment to their continued success."
As a leader, Grace aspires to be remembered for making people feel seen and heard. She also acknowledges that while focusing on people, at times there is a need for tough conversations in order to drive performance; and that is fair for the whole team. She aims to emulate the courageous, innovative, smart, empowering, kind and impactful leaders she has encountered throughout her career. By prioritizing the success and well-being of her team, Grace hopes to leave a lasting positive impact on their professional and personal lives.
Work and Wellness
Grace acknowledges the ongoing journey and work in progress of finding work-life balance and wellness. She prioritizes activities such as going to the gym, taking walks, spending time with loved ones and giving back to society. By scheduling these activities in her calendar, she ensures they receive the attention they deserve. Grace also incorporates moments of stretching, meditation, and fun into team meetings to promote engagement and a sense of global unity. She loves it when guests are caught off-guard, seeing everyone stretch on Zoom!
Grace's leadership journey at Equinix exemplifies the importance of continuous communication, understanding cultural differences and fostering a united and successful team. Her commitment to making people feel seen and heard, along with her focus on wellness, sets a remarkable example for leaders at Equinix and beyond. Stay tuned for our next installment of "Leaders at Equinix: Empower, Elevate, & Evolve."
Listening to the team sounds so simple, but it's so impactful.