A Conversation with Shawn Sequeira, Commercial Operations & Business Development Leader
What does great leadership look like? My conversation with Shawn explores his leadership philosophy, values, and approach to leading with consistency, persistence, and a commitment to walking the talk. This post—full video interview included at the end—unfolds his leadership journey and the insights he has so generously shared to set other leaders up for success, exemplifying what great leadership looks like.
Rising through the ranks from cadet to captain, Shawn started his career in the Merchant Marine at age 18. By 30, he was in command of oceangoing chemical tankers and crude oil tankers. By 33, having spent a significant amount of time at sea, he was ready to explore and study more, transitioning into an office career where he has spent the last 10 years. Shawn is currently a Commercial Operations & Business Development Leader at Sumitomo, a Japanese conglomerate.
Shawn’s leadership journey began at sea at the age of 25, where he found himself suddenly entrusted with a significant amount of responsibility as a Chief Officer, second in command. Challenging at first, he realized stepping into the role that leadership is learned. He learned what it meant to lead a team looking to him for guidance while aligning everyone around a common goal and purpose, all while ensuring the safety of the vessel.
“Leadership is a process. It’s not something that you learn today and give out tomorrow and it’s over. It’s about doing the small things daily, persistently, consistently, and walking the talk.”
Shawn believes leadership is listening, using your best judgment, and learning from your mistakes. The role of a leader, he says, is to lead while taking care of the people on the team with you.
Leadership is not one moment. It is the small things you do consistently every day.
When it comes to personal values, what Shawn values most is honesty, believing it is better to own mistakes and move on rather than hide them, saying that hidden mistakes can create serious consequences for the company, the individual, and others involved. “I think most important is, be honest. We all make mistakes. It’s important to own up to them and move on rather than hide those mistakes and continue with them.”
Following honesty is integrity. Shawn believes that whatever you do, you must do it with integrity. And the third is commitment, noting that commitment without consistency will not lead to achieving what you set out to do, or at the very least, it will take much longer.
He adds that persistence is critical, that some things do not come easily, others do, and some take time, but if you stay consistent, results will come. That ownership is key to leadership and that teams that truly move forward and succeed are led by those who are impactful and who walk the talk. “I think the teams that really move forward and do well have good leaders who are impactful and walk the talk.”
The strongest teams are led by those who walk the talk.
Shawn shares that he has had the good fortune of great mentors along his journey, but his greatest mentor did not come from the shipping industry. His greatest mentor is his grandmother.
Shawn describes his grandmother as someone with aspects he looks to embody. Someone who is patient, respectful, kind, and most importantly, genuine. He has witnessed how quickly people come to trust her and that it’s her genuineness that draws people in.
Trust, Shawn says, is the most important trait of a leader and that you cannot succeed if you are not someone people can trust. He says while there is no clear way to measure trustworthiness, it remains the most critical attribute.
He learned this firsthand through his background in the shipping industry, where even a small incident can lead to a major accident. That these incidents require trust and speaking to others in a mild manner. Something he also learned from his grandmother.
“Either you brush off the mistake as though it’s a horrible mistake and completely demolish the person in front of you, or you tell them in a mild manner.”
At 90 years old, he says his grandmother remains consistent in these traits and in the way she lives, admiring her lifelong curiosity and commitment to learning.
Shawn’s advice for the next generation of leaders is to ask questions. “Don’t feel shy, ask questions. Try to understand the problem before trying to solve it, because sometimes, or many times, we are solving a problem we have not fully understood.”
He emphasizes being consistent in what you do and notes that persistence over time leads to results. He also highlights the importance of being a great communicator, speaking softly but effectively so people understand what you are saying.
“Great communication can help solve a lot of problems. If you sit across the table, things can be resolved.”
He has seen how demotivated teams allow negative energy to spread, but believes just as strongly that positive energy radiates in the same way.
He encourages those who want to be leaders to start by helping their colleagues, allowing that positive energy to be passed on within your team, within your community, and within your circle.
The energy the leader radiates becomes the foundation the team builds on.