Podcast Interview: Thakur Singh Powdyel of Bhutan

The Innovation Race
Innovation Leader Interview:
Thakur Singh Powdyel of Bhutan

Audio Player.Press the play button above to hear the audio podcast.

As the only remaining Buddhist kingdom in the world, Bhutan is a unique country. It has consciously taken a different path, implementing a GNH (Gross National Happiness) measure rather than simply measuring GDP (Gross Domestic Product). Focusing on sustaining culture, preserving environment, and ethical leadership with responsibility and integrity – alongside economic growth – this measure is an ambitious attempt to provide guiding values for the country. The amazing thing is that this is not simply a gimmick, it’s the real deal. Everyone in the country knows the GNH principles and tries to live by them.

This is the first part of the interview series with one of the key spokespeople for the GNH, Mr Thakur Singh Powdyel, Former Minister of Education and current Director at the Royal Thimpu College. Mr Powdyel believes that, “The GNH is an aspiration, a set of guiding principles through which we are navigating our path towards a sustainable and equitable society... it’s our North star..."

Most countries and companies have little vision other than to "grow". Most companies also struggle to identify their vision and get buy in to it. For Bhutan, making decisions is different. All decisions are filtered through the GNH. What a breath of fresh air - literally! (With environmental conservation as one of the 4 guiding values, people are told "If you cut a tree down - you must plant 3 more!!!!")

Stand by for a series of inspiring video interviews from people in Bhutan who live their vision, mission and values – even down to an eight-year-old girl.

Podcast Interview: Thakur Singh Powdyel of Bhutan
Podcast Interview By

 
 
00:00 /
 
1X