True leadership isn’t about being heard first; it’s about listening first. The most inspiring leaders don’t lead through noise or authority; they lead through understanding. They take a moment to listen before they speak, build bridges before they give direction and know that culture isn’t a poster on a wall – it’s the lifeblood that flows through an organization. This is the kind of leadership Amy Mudzamiri brings to life every single day.
In her role as Diageo’s Global Employee Engagement Partner, Amy operates in a space where many leaders often struggle – the intersection of people and performance. Here, what you feel at work directly shapes what you deliver. The motivator that drives someone in Mumbai might look and feel entirely different from what inspires someone in Nairobi.
She begins with a deceptively simple question that unfolds into a complex and deeply human challenge: how do you generate real engagement across borders, when the meaning of work itself differs in every corner of the world?
Her approach is simple – and deeply human. She never starts with the same answer twice: first, she listens; second, she asks questions; third, she gets curious about what people truly need.
For Amy, engagement isn’t delivered – it’s built, one conversation at a time.
What Matters Most: Really Listening
When Amy thinks about her work across different countries and cultures, one thing stands out: the most powerful – and often least used -leadership behaviour is intentional listening.
“In my global role at Diageo, I’ve learned that listening isn’t just about hearing people,” Amy explains. “It’s about creating space to understand what truly drives engagement across different cultures and contexts.”
She knows that global strategies only succeed when they connect to local realities. So before building plans, she listens – deeply and deliberately. She explores data, gathers insights and most importantly, invites people to share their stories. Together, these voices reveal what belonging and motivation look like in each market.
“When people see their ideas reflected in a plan, something shifts,” she says. “They stop feeling like they’re following someone else’s path and start seeing themselves as co-creators of it.”
For Amy, leading across cultures isn’t about having all the answers – it’s about making space for others to share theirs. “Listening with intent builds trust faster than any strategy can,” she adds. “It’s simple, but it changes everything – because people are always more invested when they feel they’ve had a say.”
Living Values Every Day
Diageo talks about values like caring for each other, getting results, having fun, and learning. But Amy knows that knowing these values isn’t enough. Leaders need to live them every day.
She helps senior leaders move from good intentions to real action. “Coaching leaders to move from goodwill/intent to action starts with self-awareness, authenticity and accountability,” Amy notes. “The first step is reflection on how decisions and interactions demonstrate what we stand for.”
When leaders consistently show care, curiosity, and courage, they build cultures where people feel valued and inspired to give their best.
The Skill Future Leaders Need
With hybrid work and diverse teams changing fast, what’s the one skill tomorrow’s leaders need? Amy is clear: the ability to lead through change with empathy and care.
“The most important skill for future leaders is the ability to lead through change with empathy and sensitivity,” Amy says. “Change is now a constant, and the best leaders stay grounded, connected and human through it.”
At Diageo, leadership development builds these qualities through listening, inclusion, learning, and feedback. When leaders adapt with empathy, they build trust and unlock their teams’ full potential.
Making Engagement Core to Performance
One of Amy’s biggest challenges? Helping leaders understand that engagement isn’t a nice extra. It’s necessary for performance.
“A common challenge in embedding engagement into leadership conversations is shifting the mindset that it is an add-on or nice to do when you have the time rather than a core business driver,” Amy observes.
Data shows that teams who feel valued, heard, and connected do better than those who don’t. Engagement isn’t a separate task; it’s how leadership shows up every day.
People and Performance Go Together
Many leaders put business results first and people second. Amy sees it differently. At Diageo, performance and engagement are inseparable because lasting results come from teams that feel trusted, connected, and inspired.
A perfect example is Diageo India, winner of Market of the Year at the CEO Celebrates Awards. With engagement at 89% and inclusion scores at 88%, the team proved that exceptional results and strong engagement go hand in hand.
“Their success came from combining ambition with care, listening to teams, empowering them to innovate, and celebrating their achievements,” Amy reflects. “It’s a reminder that when leaders invest in people, performance becomes sustainable and culture turns into a true competitive advantage.”
The One Habit to Build
For young leaders who want to grow globally, Amy recommends one habit: stay curious.
“The most valuable habit for emerging leaders is cultivating curiosity,” Amy advises. “It can be practiced daily by seeking diverse opinions, asking open questions and spending time understanding before responding.”
Curious leaders learn faster, work together better, and build trust across the world.
Breaking Down Barriers
Many companies struggle to bring culture from their headquarters to every market. What’s the biggest barrier? Not seeing how powerful local interpretation is.
“The biggest barrier to embedding culture globally is underestimating the power of local interpretation,” Amy explains. “Involving local teams early, listening to their insights and giving them ownership of how culture is expressed in their markets builds trust and relevance.”
When people help shape the story, they live it with more conviction.
Looking Back, Moving Forward
What would Amy tell herself if she could go back to when she first started in global engagement?
“I would tell my younger self to lead with curiosity and trust the power of relationships,” she reflects. “In global roles, success is rarely about having all the answers; it is about creating space for others to share theirs.”
She’s learned that you don’t build influence by knowing everything. It comes from really listening, asking good questions, and learning from every conversation.
Leadership in Transformation
As Diageo transforms, becoming leaner, more digital, more agile, engagement becomes even more important. The most effective leaders are moving from control to connection.
“The key mindset shift is from managing performance to inspiring ownership,” Amy notes. “Leaders who listen, empower and communicate with transparency will build teams that adapt faster and stay engaged through change.”
Digital tools can drive speed. But human connection keeps energy and alignment going.
The Future of Engagement
Looking ahead, Amy is excited about creating more personal, data-driven employee experiences. Technology now lets organizations understand engagement at deeper levels and respond in real time.
“Making this successful will require courage from leaders to embrace transparency and act on what the data reveals, even when the feedback is uncomfortable,” Amy says. “When leaders listen to what people need and act on it, engagement becomes real.”
Amy’s Source of Inspiration
What continues to inspire Amy is seeing how genuine engagement can transform both organizations and people – building confidence, purpose, and connection.
“At Diageo, we often say that our people are our greatest strength, and every day I see proof of that,” she shares. Whether advancing inclusion through our Spirit of Progress ambition, leading global campaigns that bring our culture to life or creating opportunities through programmes like Learning for Life, engagement for Amy is about creating a culture where everyone can thrive.
She believes the future of leadership belongs to those who lead with empathy, curiosity and courage – leaders who see engagement not as a task to complete but as a way to lead.
“When people feel seen, heard and valued, they do more than perform, they flourish,” she concludes. “That is the kind of impact I strive to create.”
In a world of constant change, Amy embodies what modern leadership looks like. Her focus on curiosity, empathy, and genuine connection offers practical wisdom for building strong, resilient cultures. She shows that transformative leadership is open to everyone – it simply requires the daily choice to listen, connect and put people at the centre of everything you do.
