Most effective leaders understand the power of shared values to foster team cohesion. But Bijal Shah, CEO of the learning and development company Guild, takes that understanding a step further—into her home. Alongside her husband, she’s developed a family ritual grounded in three core values: kindness, persistence, and curiosity.
“Time feels short sometimes,” Shah says. “We can become impatient or short with each other. It’s grounding to remind ourselves—wait, our values are to be kind, to be persistent, and to start with curiosity.”
These values don’t just guide their parenting. Shah believes they also shape how she and her husband show up as leaders at work—and, one day, how their children will lead in their own careers.
How It Started: Building a Foundation Through Values
The journey began during Shah’s pregnancy with their first child. Her husband suggested they align on their values to avoid potential parenting conflicts and reinforce consistency. “I thought it sounded hokey at first,” Shah laughs, “but it turned out to be a powerful exercise.”
Using a deck of values cards—each featuring words like “community,” “integrity,” and “family”—they each chose five to seven that resonated. From their overlaps, they distilled the three that now anchor their family culture: kindness, curiosity, and persistence.
How It’s Going: A Daily Ritual with Real Impact
Every morning while their children brush their teeth, Shah or her husband asks: “What are you going to be today?” The kids respond, “Kind, curious, and persistent.”
It started when their daughter was just eight months old—long before she understood the words. Now, as they grow, the family uses daily experiences to reinforce meaning through association.
- Helping a friend? That’s kindness.
- Asking thoughtful questions? That’s curiosity.
- Trying again after falling off a scooter? That’s persistence.
“Kids learn best through examples,” Shah explains. “We connect real-life moments to those values again and again.”
Looking Ahead: Raising Thoughtful, Resilient Leaders
Shah’s goal isn’t perfection—it’s presence. She hopes that even when her kids are older, they’ll carry these principles with them into school, relationships, and eventually the workplace.
“If they’re passed over for a promotion, I want them to reflect, persist, and grow from it. If they’re facing a hard decision at work, I want them to act from a place of kindness,” she says. “I want them to be servant leaders—thoughtful and grounded.”
Through a simple morning mantra, Shah is doing more than shaping behavior—she’s instilling lifelong leadership values that can thrive both at home and in the boardroom.
Categories: Leadership, Parenting, Workplace Culture, Personal Development
Tags: Bijal Shah, leadership at home, parenting values, Guild CEO, executive routines, kindness, persistence, curiosity, family rituals, raising leaders
