Feel the Learn: Jacinda Ardern and the New Kind of Leader
This is a weekly series where we share growth-focused content for executive managers that you can read, watch, and/or listen to (based on your preferred learning style).
Jacinda Ardern is a badass and we should learn from her. The former Prime Minister of New Zealand is a model for leading and not being an asshole about it. She’s currently on a press tour for her new memoir, A Different Kind of Power, and documentary, Prime Minister. Every interview I’ve watched reaffirms why she was such a successful and globally admired world leader: she is fueled by an empathic and purpose-driven intention, not an ego and fear-based ambition.
There’s A LOT that executives can learn from her approach to leading. Words like “empathy” and “kindness” viscerally turn off some executives—as if those traits undermine power. Those people are crippled by their fear of insignificance. That fear makes them assholes. And ineffective. You can say neither about Ardern. She successfully led her country through multiple crises during her six-year tenure as Prime Minister. Just the two and half years since her resignation has given enough distance to see the impact of her leadership. To be clear, her administration did not successfully achieve all of their platform promises (something I’m sure CEOs can relate to), but she was able to unify her country (again and again) during difficult times. Even as her popularity waned (then plummeted) due to festering public divisiveness over the seemingly interminable COVID pandemic, she remained resolute to her commitment to keep New Zealanders alive—which she did better than most world leaders. She is now praised for her pandemic response.
This week, reflect on Ardern’s refreshing (if rare… or rarely spotlighted) leadership style and how she leans into empathy, purpose, trust, and respect. Consider the impact of her approach not just on her brand, but her outcomes. And contemplate what it would mean for you and your company if you leaned into an executive leadership style anchored to purpose, trust, and respect.
Below is my favorite interview of her press tour so far (not surprisingly, by Oprah Winfrey). It’s a great conversation about the challenges, purpose, and responsibilities of leading.
Take a few minutes this week to Feel the Learn.
WATCH or LISTEN
Watch: The Oprah Podcast | Jacinda Ardern: A Different Kind of Power
(Listen where ever you get your podcasts. Here’s Apple Podcasts.)
Oprah Winfrey interviews former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.
Topic: Leadership, Crisis Management, Purpose, Imposter Syndrome
Useful for: All Executive Leaders (period).
Time: 70 min watch (on 1x, doable at 2x)
TLDR: Ardern and Winfrey discuss her book and documentary, including her political career, leadership style and philosophies, how she made kindness a guiding principle of her administration, and her resignation after six demanding years of successes and challenges.
Serg’s Take: Jacinda Ardern is a brilliant, purpose-driven leader. Regardless of your political ideology, you cannot deny her impact, effectiveness, and legacy. You’d be a fool not to listen to her insights and glean wisdom from her lessons.
Other good interviews with Jacinda Ardern:
To discover other books by Jacinda Ardern, visit Goodreads.