This week, I had the unreal and unforgettable opportunity to attend a panel with the Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern, the 40th Prime Minister of New Zealand, currently on a remarkable tour for her bestselling memoir, A Different Kind of Power. The event was proudly hosted by Wimbledon BookFest and held here at Wimbledon High School. Below are some of the topics discussed and my personal takeaways from the experience.
Before the panel, I had the pleasure of sitting down with the five student panellists and two members of the Senior Leadership Team to meet Jacinda Ardern in person. The atmosphere before her arrival was a mix of excitement and disbelief, many of us felt it was surreal to be meeting someone of such global significance. At the same time, there was a shared sense of responsibility; we were aware of the privilege and importance of the moment. For many of us, myself included, it was the first time meeting someone who has had such a profound impact on the world. But any nerves quickly faded as soon as Ardern entered the room. She greeted each of us with warmth and extended her hand with genuine kindness. It was, without a doubt, one of the most remarkable moments of my life.
During the panel, Ardern spoke on a wide range of topics. She discussed New Zealand’s unique culture and history, with particular attention to the impacts of colonialism and the experiences of the Māori people. She spoke candidly about her struggles with imposter syndrome during her time in leadership and emphasised the importance of representation in politics. The student panellists posed thoughtful and wide-ranging questions, which led to powerful reflections on kindness in leadership, the representation of the deaf community, mental health challenges, leading a nation through tragedy, and her upcoming children’s book, due to be published later this year.
What I found especially impactful, as someone aspiring to enter politics, were her reflections on the essential qualities of a successful leader. She spoke with deep pride about her heritage as a New Zealander and explained how that patriotism became the foundation for her political journey. In her words, if you truly love your country, you must be willing to speak out about the problems it faces. She also recounted the discouragement she often faced from those who believed “kindness has no place in leadership.” Her time as Prime Minister became a way to challenge that narrative, not only for others but also for herself. Ardern, during her time as Prime Minister, demonstrated to the world that empathy and selflessness are not just acceptable in leadership, they are vital.
She also described herself as an optimist, stressing that optimism is an essential quality in any leader. “Optimism,” she said, “is expecting the world should be better and expecting better of your leaders.” Her message to us was clear: hold on to your optimism. It is the driving force that holds leaders accountable and fuels meaningful change.
In a time of increasing global hostility and political polarisation, Ardern’s message was both refreshing and hopeful. She noted the rise of “strong man” leadership across the world, where fear is weaponised and blame is shifted. Yet, she remains hopeful that this will change. Her experiences, especially those with young people she has met during her time at Harvard, have left her believing in a new generation of leaders, one that will meet division with empathy and replace aggression with compassion.
Overall, hearing Jacinda Ardern’s powerful, humane, and emotional responses instilled in me, and undoubtedly many others, a renewed belief that politics can be a force for good. It reminded us of the urgent need for a new generation of empathetic leaders, grounded in their values and committed to serving others. Above all, she showed us that leadership defined by dignity, compassion, and courage is not only possible, it is essential.
