What Jacinda Ardern Can Teach Us About Leading with Authenticity, Empathy, and Transparency

Join CCL's Ren Washington and Allison Barr as they explore what we can learn from the leadership characteristics of New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern, who currently holds the number 1 spot on Fortune’s list of World's Greatest Leaders. 

This isn’t the first time Prime Minister Ardern has made Fortune’s Greatest Leaders list, but this is the first time in 2021 that she’s been ranked number 1. When Ardern became Prime Minister of New Zealand in 2017 she grabbed international attention for her commitments to national well-being and emphasis on social issues. In 2018, Ardern was the first leader to have a child while in power since Pakistani Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto in 1990. She also holds the illustrious title of being the first leader to go on maternity leave while in office, returning to work six weeks later.  

She was thrust into the spotlight again after the tragedy in Christchurch in New Zealand during 2019. Ardern is often a polarizing figure, with her stance on gun control, climate change, and push for equitable pay. But after Ardern and her party won a landslide reelection victory in October of 2020, her star power and straight talk cannot be ignored. And likely, shouldn’t be. 

In this episode we explore Ardern’s leadership characteristics, examine what makes her such a compelling leader, and how all of us can adopt some of her style to be better leaders ourselves.  

Related Resources:

The Importance of Empathy in the Workplace: https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/empathy-in-the-workplace-a-tool-for-effective-leadership/ 

Authentic Leadership: What It Is, Why It Matters: https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/authenticity-1-idea-3-facts-5-tips/ 

Why Communication Is So Important for Leaders: https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/communication-1-idea-3-facts-5-tips/ 

Leadership Development: https://www.ccl.org/leadership-challenges/individual-leadership-development-high-potential-employees/ 

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