Spotlight On: Women in Leadership with Waynn Wu, Chief Strategy Officer at Philip Morris International - Be Bold, Be You, Be the Change

In this episode of Spotlight On's Women in Leadership series, Olivia Stainton speaks with Waynn Wu, Chief Strategy Officer at Philip Morris International, about the self-awareness and discipline required to lead through change.

Here, Waynn reflects on her early life, the impact of traditional expectations, and how resisting conformity shaped her ambition. She discusses a defining moment in her career that prompted her to reassess what success should look like and led to her framework of knowing yourself, being yourself, and learning to value yourself.

The conversation explores how to protect balance in high-pressure roles, why compassion must be practised deliberately, and how leaders can create space for experimentation and learning. Waynn also highlights the importance of collective leadership, male allyship, and long-term relationships in supporting people through different stages of their careers.

Chapters

• 0:00 Series Intro And Guest Background
• 2:07 Early Life And Nonconformity
• 3:06 From Change Agent To Leading Change
• 4:26 Redefining Success After Tough Feedback
• 7:21 Protecting Balance Under Pressure
• 9:03 Collective Power And Male Allyship
• 10:26 Turning Doors Into Tunnels
• 12:53 Know, Be, Love Yourself Framework
• 15:10 Practising Compassion With Intention
• 17:55 Empowering Experiments And Fast Pivots
• 19:15 Trusted Advice: You’ve Got You
• 21:17 Coaching With Learn, Lead, Contribute
• 24:03 Skills Over Seniority In An AI Era
• 26:38 Legacy: Integrity, Respect, Compassion
• 28:24 Swedish Match Deal And Closing