Most stories about leadership begin with ambition. Trinh Tu’s begins with resistance. When offered the opportunity to become Managing Director of Public Affairs at Ipsos UK, her first instinct was not excitement but hesitation. She already loved her job. She was good at it. She knew how to do it. The idea of stepping into a much bigger role felt uncomfortable, uncertain, and risky. Yet what followed became a powerful lesson in leading when you don’t feel ready. Trinh Tu is Managing Director of Public Affairs at Ipsos UK and Vice-Chair of UK for UNHCR. A former refugee from Vietnam, she has built a career championing evidence-based policy and opportunities for refugees in the UK.
Stepping Into a Leadership Role Often Begins with Self-Doubt
Part of the hesitation came from comfort. She loved the work she was already doing and had become highly effective at it. Moving into a more senior position meant leaving a space where she felt confident and stepping into one where success was far less certain.
What changed her mind was not a sudden surge of confidence. It was recognising that the opportunity represented something larger than herself. Seeing another woman thrive in the role helped her imagine a different model of leadership, while conversations with her husband reminded her how far she had already come and what her decision might mean for those who followed after her.
Leading Through Uncertainty Means Accepting You Won’t Have All the Answers
The transition happened almost overnight. Instead of a carefully planned handover, Trinh found herself navigating new stakeholders, new responsibilities, and hundreds of people looking to her for direction. The first year was overwhelming. Decisions arrived constantly, often involving situations where there was no obvious right answer. What stands out is her attitude towards mistakes.
Rather than aiming for perfection, she focuses on making the best decision possible with the information available. If a decision turns out to be wrong, she changes course. There is no attachment to always being right, only a commitment to learning and adapting.
That mindset feels particularly relevant in a world where uncertainty has become the norm rather than the exception.
Resilient Leadership Is About Being Both an Anchor and a Compass
One of the most memorable ideas in the episode is Trinh’s description of leadership as providing both momentum and stability.
People need direction, particularly during periods of change. They need confidence that there is a plan and that someone is paying attention to where the organisation is heading. But they also need flexibility. The plan cannot be so rigid that it breaks when circumstances change.
Trinh describes leadership as helping people navigate uncertainty without pretending certainty exists. The role is not to have all the answers. The role is to create enough confidence for people to keep moving forward while remaining willing to adjust course when necessary.
What Trinh Leaves Us Thinking About
1. You do not have to feel ready before stepping into a leadership role. Sometimes growth begins with saying yes before confidence arrives.
2. Comfort can become a reason to stay stuck. Being good at something is not always a reason to keep doing it.
3. Leading in uncertain times requires courage, not certainty. Decisions often need to be made before perfect information exists.
4. Mistakes are part of the job. The ability to learn and adapt matters more than always being right.
5. People need both stability and movement. Great leadership balances reassurance with momentum.
Perhaps the most reassuring aspect of Trinh’s journey is that it never ends with complete certainty. She did not move from self-doubt to mastery overnight. Instead, she moved from “no way” to “glad I did it” and eventually to recognising that leading has no real end point at all. It is a continual process of learning, adapting, and growing.
To hear Trinh Tu reflect on stepping outside her comfort zone, navigating uncertainty, and leading through change, listen to the full episode of the Women Emerging podcast.
About the Author
Kavya Misra is a writer and producer with a background in theatre, films and digital content. Her master’s in English literature forms the foundation for all her creative and corporate projects. In addition to this, Kavya has an extensive background in theatre. She has written and produced plays. She has also performed at festivals like Bharat Rang Mahotsav by National School of Drama, India and International Theatre Festival of Kerala, India.
