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 Shownoteshttps://howtolive.life/episode/088-turning-purpose-into-action-with-Uma-balasingamFor Folks Affected by Restructuring4 Week Career Transition Program. https://www.sharadlal.net/thrivethroughtransition How to Live NewsletterGo deeper with articles every 2-3 weeks. No spam. https://sharadlal.substack.com/ Leave us a messagehttps://howtolive.life/contactAbout Sharad Lalhttps://www.sharadlal.net/Follow usLinkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sharadlal24/Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PodcastHowtolive/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/podcasthowtolive/

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