In episode 385, I speak with author, speaker, and coach, Cherry Ward. Her work joins timeless Japanese wisdom with modern leadership practices, and it started a long way from a coaching room. Cherry was eight years old when her family left Burma during the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Overnight, the map they had lived by was no longer relevant and she learned what it takes to find your footing when everything familiar falls away. That experience set the course for everything she does now. Years later, a deep connection to Japan through skiing, language and time spent in its culture, gave her a different way of seeing strength, stillness and imperfection. It reframed what leadership could be: navigation. She learned Japanese principles, and shares them in this podcast and her new book, 'Lead with Kokoro'.
In this inspiring episode of The Wellness Puzzle Podcast, I speak with author, speaker and coach Cherry Ward, whose work brings together timeless Japanese wisdom and modern leadership practices.
Cherry’s journey began far from a coaching room. She was just eight years old when her family fled Burma during the 1988 pro-democracy uprising. Overnight, the map they had lived by was no longer relevant. Everything familiar fell away, and Cherry learned what it takes to find your footing, adapt and navigate through uncertainty.
That experience helped shape the course of her life and work.
Years later, Cherry developed a deep connection with Japan through skiing, learning the language and immersing herself in its culture. Japanese wisdom gave her a different way of understanding strength, stillness, imperfection and leadership. It helped her recognise that leadership is not always about having all the answers—it is often about learning how to navigate.
In this thoughtful conversation, Cherry introduces powerful Japanese principles and explores the importance of kokoro—the integration of heart, mind and spirit. She shares how embracing stillness, listening deeply and accepting imperfection can help us become more grounded, authentic and effective leaders.
We also discuss Cherry’s new book, Lead with Kokoro, and how its principles can help us lead ourselves and others with greater courage, clarity, compassion and purpose.
This is a fascinating and deeply meaningful conversation about resilience, reinvention and discovering the wisdom that can be found in the silence between the notes. Not to be missed!
To find out more about Cherry, book for her book launches or buy her book, Click Here
My website is www.andrewjobling.com.au