An Interview with a Role Model:

1. An Interview with a Role Model: Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher By Dylane Ho, Malaysia For the Youth Leadership, Sustainability and Ethics course

2. PART ONE: THE ROLE MODEL

3. About Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher • Director of Ludher Consultancy, Malaysia • Has a PhD in Development Studies (Gender and Work), Masters in Business Administration (Strategic Planning), and Bachelor in Social Sciences specialising in Social Research • Dedicated and committed to the promotion of gender equality, she has done extensive research on gender and work issues focusing on home-based work and the use of Information Communication Technology for Development (ICT4D) and work • A resource person for the National Council of Women's Organsation (NCWO), Malaysia Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher

4. About Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher • Previously served as an Administrative and Diplomatic Officer in the Malaysian government with experience in the Federal Treasury, Prime Minister's Department, and the Institute of Public Administration for 20 years • Has been serving as advisor to community development projects and learning organisations in Malaysia, Cambodia, Thailand, and Laos – working with various not-for-profit learning organisations for the informal education of children and junior youths • A member of the Board of Curators of the Badi Foundation, Macau • Serves as advisor and member of the Board of Directors of the Social and Economic Services (SEDS), Malaysia; Civilisation Advancement Centre, Sabah; Cambodian Organisation for Research and Development Education (CORDE), Cambodia; and New Era Foundation, India – most focus on literacy and empowerment programmes for children and junior youths

5. About Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher • Established a not-for-profit university, University of Education and Development (UniED) in Battambang, Cambodia to build capacity among Education and Community development personnel to promote individual and social transformation in the community • Has been recognised as one of the top 200 women in Malaysia • Awarded a rural champion mom by e-homemakers • Was nominated for the Niwano Peace Prize in Japan • By religion, she is a Bahá’í On a personal level • My family friend and mentor • I am currently working on a literacy project with her Sources: Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher’s personal CV Interview with Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher

6. PART TWO: THE INTERVIEW

7. What makes you a leader? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: Leadership is not about power and control. True leadership to me is moral leadership when universal values are applied in the service for the betterment of the world. Leadership is actually ‘servantship’ - how we serve others and work with them shoulder to shoulder to bring about personal and social transformation - their own personal growth and development and how they contribute to community building to bring about a better world. 

8. What motivated you to be a leader in your community? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: It is the principle of the Bahá’í Faith – Bahá’u’lláh says, “All men have been created to carry forward an ever-advancing civilisation.” 1 This is the purpose of my life, the purpose why I was created and born on this earth. To be a servant to humanity and in that way to be its moral leader.  1Bahá’u’lláh, Gleanings from the Writings of Bahá’u’lláh, p. 214

9. What inspires you? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: Celebrating the success and achievements of others; to see others especially those [who are] marginalised, disadvantaged and do not have access to opportunities to be empowered and build capacity to assist others to develop.

10. What motivates you to continue doing what you do? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: I have benefited lots from the bounties and blessings [I received] and though I am not [rich], I still can use my small pension, my social wealth of friendship, networking, academic qualifications, life experiences to benefit others. Many good friends and righteous people, even though [they] themselves have little means, are willing to join in [and work] hand in hand to help.

11. What have been your greatest successes? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: My greatest successes are being able to help in small measures to raise capacity in the Asli (Malaysian aborigines) and the Cambodian poor to gain access to international class education and utilise that to determine their own path of development; to be able to support NGOs like CORDE, the Institute for Development and UniED to work in partnership with those with resources and talents to bring about social transformation in the Asli villages and in rural and remote areas of Cambodia.

12. What have been your failures? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: [My failure] is not being able convince those in power - whether [politicians or the wealthy] - to reduce their greed and stop manipulating and exploiting others especially those having less access and power.

13. What has been the greatest challenge in your life? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: It is working with people who are filled with [the] insistent self; people who have little care and love for others and filled with greed and wanting more for themselves.

14. How do you work out conflicts? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: Loving and frank consultation and patience and above all, a commitment to the vision of what we [want] to do [to create] a better world.

15. From whom do you get feedback? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: [From] everyone I serve with. We have to create spaces for reflection and learning. Everyone's opinions [that are] in line with noble principles and vision are important.

16. How have you been able to get this far in life? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: Through the inspiration, encouragement and mentorship of others who [have been] magnanimous and sacrificial in their service to the community. Through learning and applying the Teachings of Bahá’u’lláh and Principles of the Bahá’í Faith to put religious values into professional practice, thus putting into action the two sources of knowledge - science and religion - into the development of the community. (She wrote her PhD thesis on the subject of development studies)

17. What is the most important skill to have as a leader? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: It is not so much [about] skills as [having] strong noble principles and a conviction of the nobility of others, no matter how humble [their background]. It is also a strong respect and belief in that humanity is one family and each one is truly a brother or sister. Honour to one is honour to all, injury to one is injury to all. This will keep us united and wanting to see each other triumph. It is also a learning attitude and respecting local knowledge. If there is any skill, it is the ability to read society, analyse, reflect and learn. 

18. Are leaders born or created? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: I don’t know. We are born to serve but we are given the free will to choose to follow this calling. If we are not nurtured to do this, [if] we follow our insistent self and be manipulated by materialism and consumerism, we become slaves to our material self and greed.

19. How do you see the state of the Earth in 15 years? Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: I am very optimistic about the future. There are enough good people on Earth to build a better world. The more passive powerless people, [the more we need to] assist [them] to realise they can be empowered and [arise] to serve humanity. The thought of war can be opposed by a stronger thought of peace and we can fight a thought of hatred with a stronger thought of love. As we build capacity in others and accompany them to arise, [they will be able to] determine their own and their village, neighbourhood, and community’s path of development.

20. On the nobility of human beings Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher says: Everyone is noble and everyone is capable of being empowered and enabled to generate and apply knowledge to help determine the path of development of their own contribution. We are all created noble and we should not abase ourselves or allow others to abase us.2 [People must] understand this principle and believe that they are noble, that they are capable of taking charge of their own learning, of transforming themselves, of helping the society, of helping the community, and of helping the institution.3 Sources: 2 Interview from the Nomination for Rural Mom supplementary article 3 Interview with Dr Lee Lee Loh Ludher, Executive Director of CORDE

21. PART THREE: RELATED QUOTATIONSsome wORDS THAT INSPIRE DR LEE LEE LOH LUDHER

22. Related Quotations • “The betterment of the world can be accomplished through pure and goodly deeds, through commendable and seemly conduct.” 4 • “O Son of Spirit! Noble have I created thee, yet thou hast abased thyself. Rise then unto that for which thou wast created.” 5 4 Bahá’u’lláh, cited in The Advent of Divine Justice, pp. 24-25 5 Bahá’u’lláh, The Arabic Hidden Words, no. 22

23. Related Quotations • “The injury of one shall be considered the injury of all; the comfort of each, the comfort of all; the honour of one, the honour of all.” 6 • “When a thought of war comes, oppose it by a stronger thought of peace. A thought of hatred must be destroyed by a more powerful thought of love. Thoughts of war bring destruction to all harmony, well-being, restfulness and content.” 7 6 Abdu’l-Bahá, The Promulgation of Universal Peace, p. 168 7 Abdu’l-Bahá, Paris Talks, p. 29

24. THE END THANK YOU FOR READING!