The Power of Being Seen
A few months ago, I attended Google Zurich’s 20th anniversary celebration. I’m not sure why I was invited—perhaps because I live in Zurich and work in AI—but I showed up with curiosity and a sense of gratitude.
The event was thoughtfully organised: guest speakers, engaging discussions, and a reception with a “flying buffet”—waitstaff carrying trays through the crowd, offering small bites and slices of birthday cake.
One young woman approached me with a smile, offering a canapé from her tray. In an instant, I was transported thirty years back.
I was eighteen, in Istanbul, holding a tray like hers.
Back then, I was a student working side jobs to fund a dream: to study abroad. I translated at conferences, tutored English, and indeed served food and drinks at private events. That job—my least favourite as it was demanding both physically and emotionally—taught me how to endure, how to listen quietly, and how to serve while remaining unseen. It was hard, but it paid well, and it brought me one step closer to where I wanted to be.
Standing at that Google event, I looked into this young woman’s eyes and saw my former self: full of dreams, energy, and silent hope. I smiled at her, not just out of politeness, but with genuine gratitude and recognition. I saw her. I thanked her. And I believe she felt it.
Here’s what that moment reminded me:
Leadership isn’t just about what we achieve—it’s about remembering where we started.
It’s about seeing people.
Not just for what they do, but for who they are, and who they might become.
It’s about honouring the invisible journeys behind every title, every handshake, every invitation to the room.
When I was eighteen, Google didn’t even exist. The money I had saved for four years ran out after four months abroad. And still, life unfolded. People showed up. Opportunities arrived. Thirty years later, I stood at a celebration I couldn’t have imagined, filled with nothing but gratitude.
If you’re in a leadership position today, ask yourself:
Who around you is carrying a metaphorical tray?
Who’s standing unseen at the edge of the room, full of untold potential?
What kind of leader would you be if you paused to look them in the eye?
How does it show up in your Body?
What small action can you take today to see people`s dignity?
How do you stand up for your dignity?
Because recognition can change someone’s trajectory. I know. I’ve been on both sides.
May we all remember where we came from. And may we help someone else see what’s possible from where they stand now.
