Running the Race of Impact: Milind Soman on Vitality, Joy, and Social Sector Leadership

Milind Soman, a fitness icon and Pinkathon founder, inspires millions to embrace health and purpose through his tireless advocacy and enduring runs.

By Rusen Kumar

In a world where leadership often focuses on outcomes and impact, Milind Soman brings a refreshing perspective —prioritizing health and happiness as the cornerstones of sustainable progress. Known for his remarkable fitness journey and initiatives like Pinkathon, India’s largest women’s run, Milind has inspired millions to embrace active living. In this exclusive interview with Rusen Kumar, Editor of India CSR, Milind Soman shares actionable insights for social sector leaders. Beyond organizational success, Milind emphasizes the need for leaders to nurture their own well-being and set inspiring examples for their teams and communities. From the importance of small steps to the power of reaching underserved towns, he offers a blueprint for creating lasting change. With wisdom drawn from experience, Milind reminds us that true leadership begins with self-care and ripples outward, transforming lives one healthy, happy step at a time.

Excerpts:

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Rusen Kumar: Milind, thank you for joining us today. As someone who’s inspired millions through fitness and social initiatives, what foundational advice would you give to social sector leaders who are working to uplift communities?

Milind Soman: Thank you, Rusen. I’d start with something basic yet often overlooked: the importance of health and happiness. From childhood, we’re not taught two critical life skills—how to stay physically healthy and how to be mentally happy. These aren’t part of school curriculums or family lessons. Yet, they’re essential for everyone, especially leaders. If you’re leading an organization or a community, you must encourage your people—and yourself—to prioritize these two things. Sustainable progress happens when individuals are healthy and happy; they become more productive and can grow into better leaders.

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Rusen Kumar: That’s a powerful insight—health and happiness as the bedrock of leadership. How do you suggest leaders integrate these into their work and personal lives?

Milind Soman: It’s simpler than people think. Physical health depends largely on lifestyle habits—eating well, staying active, getting enough rest. Mental happiness, to a large extent, comes from relationships—nurturing meaningful connections with family, friends, or even your team. Leaders often focus on their organizations or projects, which is important, but they neglect themselves. I’ve seen so many who are great at taking care of business but terrible at taking care of their own health. My tip is to lead by example: make time for your own well-being, and your team will follow. You don’t need a complex plan—just start small and be consistent.

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Rusen Kumar: I love the simplicity of that approach. You’ve often spoken about the ripple effect of personal health. Could you elaborate on how this impacts leadership and community outcomes?

Milind Soman: Absolutely. There’s a saying I like: “If you have good health, you have a thousand problems; if you have bad health, you have only one problem—your health.” When you’re healthy, you can tackle challenges, inspire others, and keep going. But if your health fails, everything else stops. I’ve also heard someone wise say, “Most people are so poor, all they have is money.” Think about that—money means nothing without health and happiness. For social sector leaders, this means building teams that thrive, not just survive. A healthy, happy team can achieve far more for the community than one that’s burnt out or uninspired.

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Rusen Kumar: That’s a profound perspective. You’ve also emphasized the role of older generations in setting examples. How does this tie into leadership within the social sector?

Milind Soman: It’s all about responsibility. I was speaking with someone recently about youth, and I realized—if older people were better examples, we wouldn’t need to “teach” the youth so much. Growing up, if you see your parents or leaders living healthy, purposeful lives, you naturally want to emulate them. But if they’re not inspiring—if they’re stressed, unhealthy, or disengaged—then who do you follow? Young people end up looking to peers or influencers, which isn’t always positive. Social sector leaders, especially those over 50 or 60, have a duty to model what’s possible. Next year, we’re bringing a 67-year-old woman to run 50 kilometers at an event—just to show what’s achievable. If leaders set that kind of example, the impact trickles down.

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Rusen Kumar: That’s an inspiring vision—leading by doing. On a practical note, you’re known for your running initiatives, like Pinkathon. What’s the next step for these efforts, and how can social sector leaders apply this approach?

Milind Soman: Pinkathon is about empowering women through fitness, and it’s grown massively—once spanning 88 cities in India and nine countries on the same day, with 25,000–30,000 women participating. After the pandemic, we’re restarting this year, aiming for 15 cities starting September 21st in Delhi, and eventually scaling to 52 cities across India. The focus now is on tier-2 and tier-3 towns, not just metros. In smaller cities, people don’t always have access to information or inspiration, so bringing events there can spark real change. My tip for leaders is to take your mission directly to the people—don’t wait for it to trickle down. Start small, like we did today with 300–400 runners, and let the visibility inspire others. When people see their neighbors doing it, not just celebrities, it hits home.

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Five Key Messages for Social Sector Leaders

Based on the interview, here are five concise, actionable tips for social sector leaders:

1. Prioritize Health and Happiness: Encourage your team—and yourself—to focus on physical health (through lifestyle habits) and mental well-being (through relationships). It’s the foundation for sustainable impact.
2. Lead by Example: Model healthy, happy living. If you take care of yourself, your team will too, creating a ripple effect of productivity and inspiration.
3. Start Small, Be Consistent: Progress doesn’t need grand gestures—take small steps daily, whether it’s a walk, a run, or a moment of reflection, and build from there.
4. Set an Inspiring Standard: As a leader, especially if you’re older, take responsibility to be a role model. Show what’s possible at any age or stage of life.
5. Go Where the Need Is: Bring your initiatives directly to underserved communities, like tier-2 and tier-3 towns, to create immediate, visible impact that inspires action.

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