Summer’s here – but not as we know it. As we enjoy the season safely during lockdown, this month’s Skim reflects on a few of the exceptional female leaders stepping up to the plate at the toughest time.
You’ll find insights on leadership skills, self-confidence and that all-important work-life balance – take five and treat yourself.
Jacinta Ardern
‘Her leadership style is one of empathy in a crisis that tempts people to fend for themselves. Her messages are clear, consistent, and somehow simultaneously sobering and soothing.’
New Zealand premier Jacinta Ardern has been praised by many global commentators for an empathic leadership style which united her nation and helped it pull through the Covid-19 crisis successfully.
This profile from The Atlantic examines how the personable and approachable NZ PM seems to have benefitted from clear communication and transparency at a time when other global leaders have arguably struggled.
Tsai Ing-Wen
‘This is what I hope Taiwan can share with the world: the human capacity to overcome challenges together is limitless.’
Tsai In-Wen became Taiwan’s first female president in 2016 and, despite a tough first term beset by tumultuous domestic issues, she scored a decisive win in the January 2020 elections to secure a second term in office.
By leading a swift response to Covid-19 which made her nation one of the world’s most successful in battling the virus, she has won admirers the world over. In this self-penned Time article, she shares some fascinating insights on Taiwan’s unified approach and unique national spirit.
Katrin Jakobsdottir
‘We made the decision we would listen to the scientists and follow their advice closely, but also make that process as transparent as possible’
As a child, Katrin Jakobsdottir harboured ambitions to be a rock star or surgeon, but today she has to satisfy herself with being the Prime Minister of Iceland.
Iceland has been a world leader in combatting Covid-19 with a strict ‘test, track, isolate’ policy, has tested more of its population per capita than anywhere else on earth and proactively commenced testing almost a month before the first case was identified there. In this CNN interview, Katrin explains Iceland’s approach to containing the virus and maintaining a trusting social contract with her populace.
Sanna Marin
‘Of course, I have also felt that maybe I’m not as good as people think. But when you spend more time in politics doing your work, you realise that everybody is just a human being and every job is the size of a person’
At 34, Sanna Marin is the world’s youngest prime minister, although she rightly insists that she’s judged on her political acumen rather than her gender or age.
Like many nations, Finland has had its struggles dealing with Covid-19, yet it seems to have done a reasonable job in protecting public health and is at the forefront of developing rapid tests which might soon be shared worldwide.
In this refreshing Vogue Interview, the Finnish PM talks about everything from family values to imposter syndrome.
Hear more from Sanna Marin here
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