Home

Can leaders truly make a difference without money, power, or an influential network? Absolutely.

Explore the inspiring stories of extraordinary individuals who defied the odds:

An English-illiterate teenager who created jobs for millions.
A village boy who saved an airline.
A woman who mobilised hundreds of doctors to save lives in danger zones.
A teenage boy who transformed thousands of poor people into bankers.

Join Alvin Ung as he uncovers the mindsets of remarkable Malaysian leaders like Dato' Sri Iris Jala, Irene Fernandez, Tan Sri Dr. Jemilah Mahmood, Helen Read, and Mark Chang. Their uplifting journeys showcase how staying true to your calling can transform not just your life, but the lives of others worldwide.

Get the Book

The Art

1. Let Go of Control

3. Courage

5. Deliberate Practice

7. Do What You Love

9. Every Person Matters

The Heart

2. Embrace Your Calling

4. Humility

6. Savour Joy

8. Love What You Do

10. Your Life Matters

BUY NOW

PREVIEW

VIDEO

Also available in Bahasa Malaysia as Kepimpinan yang Berpijak di Bumi. Email info@barefootleadership.my for more info.

Praise for Barefoot Leadership

“A top-class piece of narrative research. Penetrating. Barefoot Leadership tells you the purpose, character and impart of extraordinary leaders. Highly recommended for students, practitioner and scholars of leadership studies.”

SAMUEL M. LAM, Managing Partner of Third Opinion Partners

“An excellent read! Because every person matters, how leaders journey with their followers matters as much as the results they achieve at the end. Barefoot Leadership cuts across the usual sanitised ideas of leadershipand goes straight to the heart of what matters.”

SHAHNAZ AL-SADAT, Former Executive Director of Khazanah Nasional

“In Barefoot Leadership, Alvin Ung bares leadership to its essence and reinforces my belief that everyone can be a leader. Well-researched, crisp and full of heart-warming stories, this book provides a blueprint for developing authentic leadership. A ‘must read’ to inspire you to leadership greatness.”

ROSHAN THIRAN, Founder of Leaderonomics, a social enterprise

“Alvin Ung leads us to the East instead of the West to find insights into high performance leadership. He tells the stories of how extraordinary Malaysian leaders overcame the impossible to make the world a better place in small and large ways by their courage, conviction, and passion. You will be deeply inspired to lead at a higher level.”

GEORGE A. KOHLRIESER, Bestselling author of Hostage at the Table and Professor of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at IMD

Resources

You’ll get the most out of the book by completing the exercises at the end of each chapter. Download a printable copy here.

EXERCISES

Catch Alvin Ung in conversation with Freda Liu on BFM 89.9 as they explore the 10 principles of Barefoot Leadership.

PODCAST

About the Author

Alvin Ung’s purpose is to grow leaders who embrace their calling. As a facilitator and coach, Alvin finds joy in creating a safe space where leaders can renew relationships, build trust, and contribute to breakthroughs.

Alvin gained extensive experience from designing leadership programmes for the next generation of top civil servants in Malaysia, working with senior economic officials in Southeast Asia, and convening CEOs from 20 large Asian companies. His work has been written up as case studies by the top-ranked IMD business school in Switzerland.

Mentor and speaker at EY’s World Entrepreneur of the Year Awards
Twice named as Fellow at Khazanah Nasional, the sovereign wealth fund of Malaysia, where he studies transformational leadership in Asia
Co-founder of Leaderonomics, an award-winning social enterprise in leadership development
Taught leadership, spirituality and creative writing at universities in North America and Southeast Asia.

Alvin and his family live in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia

Contact Info

www.barefootleadership.my

info@barefootleadership.my