#28. Lakshmi Ramachandran and her Values, Passion, and Purpose

Our SG60 series is about people who have been shaped by Singapore, and are making a difference in Singapore. These stories also aim to be a channel for individual reflection on what our own values are, and how we discover our passion and strive towards our purpose.

Values are your non-negotiable foundation, passion is about what excites and motivates you, and purpose is your deeper reason for existence.
- Harvard Business Review

Wantedly’s mission is to create a world where work drives passion, and whether you are a founder or creator, a leader or a gig worker, a consultant or a teacher, discovering and aligning your values, passion, and purpose will give you the best chance at having a fulfilling career, and more importantly, a meaningful life. With that in place, organisations can achieve their mission, and society and beyond will benefit in the long run. And as a nation, when we reflect on our shared values of multiculturalism, boldness, resilience and openness, we can build upon what drove our prosperity…

SG60’s theme is a refreshed spirit, and by celebrating Singapore’s journey to date, Wantedly is proud to spotlight a group with diverse origins who have contributed to the past, and will be creating the next chapter of the Singapore story.

Introducing Lakshmi

Dr. Lakshmi Ramachandran is a scientist turned leadership communication expert with nearly two decades in biomedical research and a PhD in Cell and Molecular Biology. Having worked across the US, India, and Singapore, she understands the challenges STEM professionals face. These include gaining visibility and voice beyond the labs and computers, and navigating persuasion, negotiation, and difficult conversations with confidence and clarity.

Leadership communication goes beyond the exchange of information, it is the ability to connect deeply, articulate clearly, and influence effectively. To that end, Dr. Lakshmi empowers STEM leaders to transform their scientific brilliance into influence. As a PCC-level coach with extensive speaking experience, she has created and led public speaking and emotional intelligence courses, and also served as Chair for the Executive Group Network (EGN) Singapore. Her impact has been recognised with the Singapore 40-over-40 award, a Coach Awards bronze (2023), and the Globant Techfluencer award. Dr. Lakshmi is also a published author.

In her own words

Fun fact about me? I have sailed around the world in 4 months! This is because my husband used to sail (he is now working onshore in ship management). After completing my PhD from University At Buffalo, I went sailing with him to experience his world. It turned out to be a fantastic experience for me, including crossing the equator and even the notorious Sunda straits.

1. What are your top 3 values?

Respect – For me, respect is the foundation on which all other values rest. It begins with respect for oneself and extends to others and to the world around us. How I speak to myself, how much I am willing to tolerate certain behaviour from others, how I speak to/treat others, how I care for our environment is all based on respect.

Freedom – I see freedom as an inner state. It means being free from anger, grudges, resentment, and regret. This inner freedom allows us to access our true power and unlock our full potential.

Authenticity – To me, authenticity is tuning in to who I am and who I am becoming. It is about practicing what I preach and ensuring my actions always align with my values.

2. What keeps you up at night?

If there’s anything that keeps me up, it’s ideas about how I can help the science and technology community power up their voice, visibility, and agency. Having lived that journey myself, I know how often brilliant ideas remain unheard because the messenger isn’t confident in communication. I get many ideas on how to solve this, and these days I am consciously channelling them into structured, sustainable ways to create real change.

3. What gets you out of bed in the morning?

Mornings are my reset button. I love beginning the day with a quiet walk or yoga, followed by a cup of tea in silence. It reminds me that every day is a fresh start. My intention each morning is simple yet powerful: to remain joyful and peaceful no matter what unfolds. That mindset gets me out of bed with energy and purpose.

4. What fills your cup?

My cup is filled whenever I hear from people that a talk, course, or article of mine has helped them find clarity, confidence, or courage. Knowing that my work makes a difference in their lives gives me immense joy. And of course, nothing fills my heart more than the love and laughter of my children.

5. In your current season, how do you define impact and success?

At this stage, I define success very simply, as a good night’s sleep. When the heart is at peace, the mind is at ease. Impact, to me, means influencing positively helping people connect better, communicate more powerfully, and lead with humanity, so that together we make our world a better place. To realise this, it takes consistent alignment with my values, the courage to keep showing up, and the discipline to turn ideas into action.

6. Please leave us with your advice for Scientists considering alternative careers.

Your scientific training equips you with critical thinking, problem solving, resilience, and the ability to learn fast. But to thrive beyond the lab, one more skill becomes essential - communication. The ability to articulate your ideas clearly, connect with people meaningfully, and influence effectively will open doors you never imagined. Reinvention is not failure; it is growth. The world needs scientists who can not only generate knowledge but also communicate it with confidence and impact.

Through life challenges that changed my career track from scientific research to leadership development, I am inspired to enable people to lead with their inner P.O.W.E.R. irrespective of titles and job descriptions.​

P.O.W.E.R. is an effective framework that I have developed, and use in my coaching, speaking and training to help people own and hone their personal power- key to success and fulfillment. 

Follow me and let's lead with P.O.W.E.R. together!

LinkedIn, Instagram, Youtube, Website

Once again, in celebration of SG60, let us strive to be bolder and kinder to one another, for Singapore and ourselves.

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