Describe a good leader you know about.

I'd like to talk about Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, who I genuinely consider an outstanding modern leader. I first heard about her through international news, but I really got to know more about her when I watched a series of in-depth interviews and speeches online during the pandemic, and later read a couple of long-form articles analysing her leadership style.

In terms of achievements, she led New Zealand through some incredibly tough times: the Christchurch mosque shootings, a volcanic eruption, and of course the COVID-19 crisis. Under her leadership, the country responded swiftly to the pandemic and initially managed to keep case numbers remarkably low. She also pushed forward progressive policies on climate change and child poverty. Even though not every policy was perfect, she built a reputation globally as a compassionate yet decisive head of government.

What makes her stand out, in my view, are several key qualities. First, she’s empathetic; she doesn’t just talk at people, she seems to genuinely listen. Second, she’s remarkably calm under pressure, which is crucial when everyone else is panicking. On top of that, she communicates with real clarity and sincerity, avoiding that typical political jargon that puts people off. She also appears humble and willing to admit when something hasn’t gone to plan.

I think she’s a good leader because she combines strength with kindness, which is a rare balance. She showed that you don’t have to be loud or aggressive to be effective; you can lead through emotional intelligence and integrity. To me, that’s exactly the kind of leadership the world needs more of.