Priti Bhattarai
She/Her
“Perennial is rooted in the belief that people are the true drivers of social change, and just like soil, leadership must be carefully cultivated to sustain growth."
"Don't make room, take up space"
""Sometimes regardless of feeling confident, you just have to start."
Resilience
For me, wellbeing is about developing practices that sustain both inner and outer balance, helping leaders show up fully in their roles. My personal wellbeing practice includes 30 minutes of meditation in the morning, which helps me center myself, and 30 minutes of physical exercise, such as running or aerobics, to stay energized and grounded. These practices allow me to reconnect with my purpose and approach challenges with clarity and focus. They’re not just about maintaining physical health but also about nurturing my mental and emotional balance, which is crucial when leading others through uncertainty.
At Perennial, we’ve built on over two decades of work to integrate wellbeing and restoration into leadership development. We define wellbeing practice as a deliberate commitment to cultivating internal strength while balancing external demands. It’s about learning to pause, reflect, and recalibrate. "The Soil of Leadership: Cultivating the Conditions for Transformation" written by our organization's founder, Dr. Britt Yamamoto, further explores these themes, offering leaders tangible ways to embed wellbeing and sustainability into their leadership journeys. By modeling these practices in my own life and work, I aim to inspire others to discover what practices help them reset and thrive.
Purpose-Driven
Growing up in Nepal and spending much of my formative years in Japan gave me a unique perspective on what it means to lead and live with purpose. In Nepal, I witnessed the strength and resilience of communities, despite systemic inequities and historical challenges. Japan offered a contrasting environment of precision and structure, which taught me the value of order and systems thinking. Together, these experiences shaped my understanding of leadership as a balance between honoring collective values and embracing individual creativity.
This "why" drives the work we do at Perennial. It’s about creating conditions where leaders can thrive while addressing complex, systemic challenges. By building leadership ecosystems grounded in wellbeing and sustainability, we help leaders connect deeply with their own purpose and align it with their actions. Our book, The Soil of Leadership, encapsulates this vision by exploring how leaders can cultivate the inner and outer conditions for transformative impact. My own journey inspires others to reflect on their roots, draw strength from them, and lead in ways that honor their unique histories.
Developmental Leadership
My approach to leadership development focuses on creating fertile environments where people can uncover their potential and grow. At Perennial, this philosophy is deeply rooted in what we call Leadership 3.0—a model that emphasizes self-awareness, interconnectedness, and systems thinking. It’s not about providing answers but cultivating the conditions for self-discovery and growth.
One recent example comes from the Perennial Leadership Development Program in partnership with Focus Central America Foundation. A participant entered the program uncertain of their ability to lead change in their community. By guiding them through reflective practices and systems-based strategies, we helped them reconnect with their purpose and strengths. By the program's end, they had developed a clear vision and actionable steps for driving transformation in their work.
This year, The Soil of Leadership has been a powerful tool in our work. The book explores how leaders can “build the soil” for sustainable growth, with wellbeing and restoration at the core. It’s a reflection of our two decades of work helping leaders not just achieve their goals but transform the environments they touch.
Intersectionality
Being a Nepali woman operating in global leadership spaces has often required me to navigate the tension between cultural humility and assertiveness. In Nepal, there’s a deep cultural value placed on collectivism and quiet strength. In contrast, many Western leadership contexts prioritize individual advocacy and vocal self-promotion. One instance of this tension arose during a global conference where I needed to assert my perspective in a highly individualistic space, but doing so felt uncomfortable and at odds with my cultural instincts.
Navigating this moment taught me the importance of integrating, rather than separating, different aspects of my identity. I reframed self-advocacy as amplifying the stories and values I represent, which allowed me to engage confidently without feeling disconnected from my roots. This nuanced perspective informs how I lead and create spaces for others. As outlined in The Soil of Leadership, understanding and embracing these intersections strengthens leaders’ capacity to support diverse identities and foster inclusion within systems.
Future Facing Legacy
I hope my legacy is one of cultivating environments where leaders feel empowered to lead with authenticity, resilience, and a deep sense of purpose. For over two decades, Perennial has been committed to embedding wellbeing, sustainability, and restoration into leadership development. This isn’t just about individual growth—it’s about creating ripple effects that transform systems and communities.
The Soil of Leadership encapsulates this vision by highlighting the importance of soil-building: creating fertile conditions where leaders and their teams can thrive sustainably. Through our Leadership 3.0 model, we’ve shown how inner reflection and external action are deeply interconnected. My hope is that this philosophy continues to inspire leaders to create meaningful, long-term change. When others reflect on my work, I want them to see a commitment to creating space for leaders to flourish—not just in the present but for generations to come.