The Soft Power Manual is a book about leadership, identity, resilience, self-trust and leading with care in systems that often reward performance over presence. Part memoir and part reflection, it explores how to hold influence without becoming harder, louder or less yourself. The book combines personal stories, reflections and leadership insights drawn from Vida Asrina Dhulst’s experience navigating migration, design leadership, ambition and belonging.

Yes — but not in the traditional sense. The Soft Power Manual is a modern leadership book focused on emotional intelligence, self-awareness, communication, resilience and human-centred leadership. Rather than teaching dominance or authority, it explores how people can lead with clarity, care, trust and conviction while staying connected to themselves.

The Soft Power Manual is written for people navigating leadership, growth, identity and ambition without wanting to lose themselves in the process. It resonates with leaders, creatives, designers, founders, professionals, women in leadership, migrants, people of colour, emotionally intelligent leaders and anyone trying to grow without becoming harsher to survive.

In leadership, “soft power” refers to influence built through trust, clarity, emotional intelligence, communication, care and presence rather than fear, control or ego. The Soft Power Manual explores how softness is not weakness, but a form of grounded strength that can create trust, connection and long-term impact in teams, communities and organisations.

The Soft Power Manual is primarily reflective, but deeply grounded in real leadership experiences. The book blends memoir, personal essays and practical reflections about communication, confidence, identity, resilience, leadership and navigating modern work culture. Many readers describe it as a book to return to slowly during periods of transition, uncertainty or personal growth.

No. Although Vida Asrina Dhulst comes from a design and leadership background, The Soft Power Manual is written for a broad audience. The themes of identity, ambition, emotional resilience, self-trust, belonging and leadership are universal and resonate across industries, cultures and life stages.

The digital edition of The Soft Power Manual is available directly through this website as an instant download. Paperback and Kindle editions are also available through Amazon internationally.

The digital edition purchased through this website is delivered as a downloadable PDF designed for reflective reading across desktop, tablet and mobile devices. Kindle editions are separately available through Amazon Kindle.

Yes. The Soft Power Manual is growing into a broader community experience through conversations, gatherings, workshops and future retreats centred around leadership, reflection, creativity, emotional resilience and human-centred growth. Readers can join the mailing list to hear about future events, retreats and community conversations.