Collaboration and kindness

To award-winning businesswoman and food guru, Pinky Lilani, 'likeability' is a key characteristic underpinning success in business. "If you don't like someone you don't want to do business with them. It doesn't matter how intelligent they are, how great they are at communication if you don't like their attitude and you don't like them, you're not going to do any business with them." She told MBA students at Cambridge Judge Business School that the 'likeability' factor was a key inclusion in her list of seven qualities required to be successful in business. The title of her Leadership Seminar was 'collaboration and kindness', which she insists are two essential ingredients for success. Pinky Lilani is CEO of Food Magic and is listed by Radio 4's Woman's Hour programme as one of the most powerful women in the UK. She is the driving force behind the annual Women of the Future Awards and the Asian Women of Achievement Awards.