A heartfelt thank you to the incredible leaders who shared their insights and contributed to the article. Your vigor, resilience, and drive inspire us.
Great leaders don’t just react to challenges—they create momentum. What sets them apart isn’t just expertise or decision-making, but the energy they bring to every challenge. When uncertainty slows teams down, these leaders don’t stall. They focus, push forward, and lead with vigor.
Leadership is demanding, and in times of prolonged uncertainty, it can be especially draining. Research shows that 82% of senior leaders experience exhaustion, yet they are still expected to inspire, navigate complexity, and sustain progress. Vigor isn’t about ignoring fatigue—it’s about knowing when to push when to recharge, when to drive momentum, and when to create space for renewal. The most effective leaders manage their energy with intention, ensuring that they—and their teams—have the resilience to move forward.
These leaders don’t just keep going; they set the pace, create focus, and fuel a culture that doesn’t just endure challenges but grows through them.
For this piece, we spoke with leaders who embody vigor daily. Their insights reveal that vigor is deeply personal, shaped by individual experiences yet anchored in three core themes: purpose, balance, and momentum. Here’s what they shared about what it means to lead with vigor.
Key Takeaways
Part 1: How does Vigor Shape Leadership?
Energy is contagious—leaders set the pace, shaping team motivation and trust.
Momentum creates stability—sustained vigor keeps teams engaged and moving forward.
Part 2: What Fuels Vigor?
Purpose drives vigor—leaders with a strong "why" sustain energy and focus.
Balance prevents depletion—managing physical, emotional, and mental well-being ensures longevity.
Part 3: How do Leaders Sustain their Vigor?
Recharge intentionally—leaders refuel their energy through personal, social, and physical practices.
Lead with consistency—vigor isn’t about constant speed, but knowing when to push and when to recover.

Part 1: How Vigor Shapes Leadership
Through our conversations with different leaders, we observed that vigor is a powerful force that shapes leadership and directly impacts team outcomes. Those who lead with vigor create a ripple effect, fostering motivation, trust, and focus. By driving engagement and cultivating a positive, innovative culture, vigorous leaders inspire individuals to thrive.
In essence, vigor fuels success by enabling leaders to inspire, connect, and lead with purpose.
We Asked Leaders: What does leading with Vigor mean?
At its core, vigor combines physical, emotional, and intellectual energy with determination and optimism. Here’s how the leaders we interviewed define it:
"Vitality: An energetic and passionate drive to achieve goals, coupled with resilience, persistence and optimism."
Sandra Salame, founder of Siira leads mental well-being initiatives in the MENA region and manages a cybersecurity tech company. She moves between these distinct roles with determination, channeling persistence to tackle complex challenges and adapt to ever-changing demands.
"Energy: A dynamic, high-efficiency approach to work and life that fuels continuous progress."
Rama Chakaki, investor and partner at Transform VC, has led teams across deep tech and impact entrepreneurship. For her, vigor is about sustaining momentum—staying driven, performing at a high level, and inspiring others to push forward with purpose.
"Determination: A relentless focus on achieving goals, overcoming setbacks, and solving problems with creativity."
Yasmina Sabbah, an acclaimed conductor and educator, leads ensembles such as the USJ Choir and the Firdaus Orchestra. In her work, vigor is about adaptability—navigating creative challenges, fostering trust, and ensuring excellence through innovation.
"Motivation: The ability to inspire and lead by example, balancing personal drive with service to others."
Nadim Abboud, OBE Managing Partner of Abboud & Associates, channels his vigor into law, community service, local sports, and education. His leadership is fueled by the motivation to empower others, making a meaningful impact in both his profession and his broader community.
"Dynamism: A blend of ambition, perseverance, and positivity that drives action and energizes teams."
Reim El Houni, founder of Ti22 Films and Dubai ON Demand, leads with a balance of discipline and creativity. She channels her passion into impactful storytelling, helping professionals and SMEs build their presence while fostering a team culture that thrives on energy and innovation.
These different perspectives show how vigor drives leadership, rooted in both personal growth and the desire to support others. But what drives vigor?
Part 2: What Fuels Vigor?
With 37% of leaders citing team motivation as a key challenge, it's clear that the ability to inspire others starts with self-motivation. To lead with purpose and energy, leaders must first understand what fuels their own vigor.
Purpose: The Core Driver of Energy
At the heart of vigor is a strong sense of purpose. For these leaders, their "why" sustains their energy and resilience.
Rama Chakaki envisions a better future through her work in deep tech and impact entrepreneurship, using her drive to push boundaries.
Reim El Houni stays connected to her vision by setting ambitious goals—an Academy Award, a thriving future for her team—and celebrates wins along the way to keep the journey fulfilling.
Sandra Salame finds purpose in creating meaningful impact, whether through empowering individuals or leading change in mental well-being and cybersecurity
As Reim puts it, "Celebrating wins and practicing gratitude fuels me —it’s how I stay committed to my broader vision."
Commitment: The Responsibility to Others
Beyond personal ambition, vigor is also powered by an unwavering commitment to those they lead.
Yasmina Sabbah draws strength from the trust placed in her by her teams, ensuring she leads with dedication through every challenge.
Nadim Abboud finds motivation in achieving results and mentoring the next generation, channeling his sense of responsibility toward a greater impact.
"Energy builds energy. New projects, new challenges—that’s where motivation comes from." - Nadim Abboud
Part 3: How do Leaders Sustain their Vigor?

The Life Force Pyramid
Even the most driven leaders face moments of depletion. With 41% of leaders struggling to balance career and personal life and over one-third of leaders focused on avoiding burnout, sustaining energy isn’t about working harder—it’s about recharging strategically.
When we asked leaders how they maintain their vigor, their answers aligned with the Life Force Pyramid, a framework by Dr. Phil Stutz that focuses on three foundational sources of energy: Body, People, and Self.
Body: Recharging Physical Energy
For many leaders, physical well-being is the foundation of sustained vigor. Recovery is just as important as action, and prioritizing health ensures long-term effectiveness.
Rama balances high-energy movement with deep rest. “I spend a day in bed watching soothing shows or listening to calming books, then follow it up with a high-energy workout day or a 10-mile walk.”
Yasmina takes a holistic approach to energy management, integrating both mental and physical preparation into her routine.
Sandra and Reim emphasize the power of changing focus to recharge. Whether it’s watching a film, reconnecting with loved ones, or stepping away for a reset, they make space to restore balance.
Leaders who build recovery into their routines sustain their energy longer, making them more effective in the long run.
People: Drawing Energy from Relationships
Strong relationships provide emotional grounding, resilience, and motivation. Many leaders find that connecting with others is a key source of energy.
Yasmina describes the restorative power of time with loved ones: “Cooking, walking, being outdoors, resting with family, friends, and my husband”—all of which contribute to a healthier, more energized life.
Sandra echoes this, finding peace and rejuvenation in spending time with her closest circle.
Nadim draws energy not just from personal relationships but from the impact his work has on others, saying, “New projects, new goals, new challenges… Energy comes with motivation.”
Self: Staying Fueled by Personal Purpose
Leaders with vigor are fueled by a deep connection to their personal goals. Their energy comes from progress, momentum, and a sense of accomplishment.
Nadim believes that energy fuels energy, explaining, “Energy builds energy.” He finds motivation in constantly taking on new challenges and pushing forward.
Yasmina thrives on seeing tangible progress, sharing, “I get energized by planning and seeing that I’m accomplishing a bit of my objective.”
While some leaders, like Rama and Sandra, recharge by stepping back, others, like Nadim and Yasmina, stay immersed in their work to sustain their energy.
While their approaches to recharging their energy levels may differ, all leaders emphasize the importance of balance.
The Art of Balance

Sustaining vigor isn’t just about relentless effort—it’s about intentionally managing energy so leaders can stay engaged, resilient, and effective. Balance isn’t about equal time for everything; it’s about prioritizing what fuels energy, focus, and well-being.
Balance is a subjective practice, unique to each individual and shaped by their character, personality, and perspective. For each leader we spoke to, balance looked different, much like this sketch by Daniel Abrahams which we love. Despite this, common themes emerged: freedom in decision-making, knowing when to push and when to pause, and aligning actions with priorities.
We Asked Leaders: What does Balance Mean to you?
Balance Means: Freedom in Decision-Making
For some leaders, balance means having autonomy over how, when, and where they work—the ability to adjust pace while staying connected to their teams.
“Having a choice enables you to work when, how, and with whom you want,” says Reim El Houni, describing the flexibility that helps her sustain momentum. Similarly, Rama Chakaki focuses on investing time where it matters most, adjusting based on priorities rather than a rigid structure.
Balance Means: Knowing When to Push and When to Pause
Balance also means understanding personal limits and recognizing when to step back to sustain long-term energy. For Nadim Abboud, this intentional balance is non-negotiable: “Everything I do is based on balancing my energy and the needs of my projects. Without balance, you have nothing.”
“Pushing forward but also knowing when to pause and recalibrate—navigating polarities in life with wisdom, openness, and faith,” explains Sandra Salame.
Balance Means: Aligning Actions with Personal and Professional Priorities
For others, balance is less about time management and more about ensuring that what they do aligns with their core values. Yasmina Sabbah highlights the importance of doing things she enjoys to maintain balance: “I don’t believe we can truly deliver something good if we can only do one thing well. Doing things I like keeps me balanced.” This perspective echoes across leaders who recognize that fulfillment in work and life are deeply connected.
Ultimately, balance isn’t about perfect harmony—it’s about making choices that sustain energy, momentum, and purpose. Leaders who actively shape their balance, rather than chase an impossible ideal, are the ones who sustain vigor over time.
Leading with Vigor: A Choice, Not a Trait
Vigor isn’t about being the loudest in the room or the most visibly energetic leader. It’s about sustaining focus, driving momentum, and knowing when to accelerate or hold steady. Some leaders bring vigor through enthusiasm and presence, while others embody it through quiet determination and resilience.
What defines a leader with vigor isn’t their style but their intentionality—the ability to harness energy wisely, inspire progress in others, and create an environment where momentum is sustained even in the face of setbacks. Vigor is not just a personal trait; it’s a leadership choice. The most effective leaders cultivate it with purpose, ensuring their teams don’t just keep moving but move forward with clarity and strength.
Comments