WINY and I have always been passionate Star Trek fans. Especially Star Trek: The Next Generation.
At the heart of it was Captain Jean-Luc Picard, a character whose moral compass, courage, wisdom, and unwavering belief in humanity gave us something to aspire to.
But beyond the character was the man himself. Sir Patrick Stewart. A gentleman in every sense of the word. Kind, generous, extraordinarily intelligent, humble and open.
A man who understood that true leadership is not about power or authority, but about integrity, compassion and the courage to do what is right.
Qualities that should define leaders in every field, not just on the bridge of the Enterprise.
I had the privilege of meeting him thrice in my life. And I treasure every one of those encounters.
As we grow older, I become increasingly aware of how many extraordinary souls we are losing. People who, often without ever knowing it, helped shape our values, inspired our dreams and reminded us of the better angels of our nature.
They gave us anchors when the seas were rough, and sails when we needed the courage to venture beyond the horizon.
We are losing too many, too quickly. And with each passing, a little piece of the world that shaped us disappears.
But perhaps that is the greatest legacy of truly remarkable people. They remind us not merely of what humanity is, but of what humanity can be.
And that is something worth holding on to.
Live long and prosper. – October 31, 2026
Datuk Dr Vinod Sekhar is the publisher of The Vibes and Chairman of the Petra Group
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