Queen Mary Professor honoured in 2025 Kindness and Leadership Leading Lights list

The campaign highlights role models who demonstrate empathy, transparency and generosity of spirit in their approach to leadership. Each year it showcases individuals who help others to thrive by embedding kindness in their everyday decision making.

Professor Chandrasekara leads one of the UK’s most prestigious flagship programmes delivered in partnership with Queen Mary University of London and PricewaterhouseCoopers. The four year Flying Start programme provides students with academic study and paid placements, giving them the opportunity to become exam qualified Chartered Accountants with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Reflecting on her approach to leadership and education, Professor Chandrasekara said:

“I lead one of the UK’s most prestigious flagship programmes in partnership with Queen Mary University of London and PricewaterhouseCoopers. This programme offers young people the opportunity to study accounting through a fast track, four year programme with paid placements, enabling them to become exam qualified Chartered Accountants with the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales.

Students begin studying technical content immediately, tackling increasingly complex calculations. The pace of learning is fast, and there is significant academic and professional growth. This environment requires compassion, help, and support and I always say, be kind.

I truly believe kindness has a profound impact on our award winning programmes like the Flying Start. Kindness empowers students, fosters connections, and encourages collaboration. When you are kind to people, you help them bring out the best in themselves. When you are kind to your students, they perform at their very best, and you build strong, positive relationships with them.”

The Kindness and Leadership campaign aims to shift perceptions of what effective leadership looks like by championing the value of empathy, openness and respect. The 2025 list features individuals from across business, education, public service and the charity sector who demonstrate how kindness can strengthen teams, culture and performance.

You can view the full 2025 Leading Lights list on the Kindness and Leadership website.