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Bringing people together, showing determination and being a good listener are some of the qualities that the younger generation is looking for in leaders.
This is what Gen Z and Millennial participants said at the One Young World Summit in Montreal, Canada.
Sue Whiskey, CEO and founder of sustainability organization Malawi Environment Network, said: “It is vital that when leaders are at the forefront, they act in the interests of their people, and Not for their own benefit or that of a small group of people.
She also said persistence and determination are important for leaders. “People go through so much, but what they achieve is so much greater than anything they’ve ever experienced,” she said.
Wiskey said that while some leaders “are not always driven by good intentions,” even those with different views can “be in the same room.” “We can all create the world we want to create. We can all work towards peace,” she said.
For Northern Ireland politician Carla Hunt, empathy and understanding are crucial. “The importance of listening can never be underestimated,” she said. Hunter, who became a member of the Northern Ireland Assembly for East Londonderry in 2020 at the age of 24, said she was keen to hear what people younger than her wanted from education.
“A good leader should listen and elevate the voices of those who may not be able to vote but want to participate in the political process and make sure they know the power they have,” she said.
Hunter is a member of the Northern Ireland Education Council, a role she says helps build a peaceful society in the region. “A key aspect of this… is considering the importance of inclusive education, ensuring that every child, regardless of background or belief, has access to a shared education and true respect for cultural differences,” Hunt said.
bring people together
South African rugby player Siya Kolisi takes a photo with fans after leading the team to defeat Scotland in the Autumn Nations Series on November 10, 2024 in Edinburgh, Scotland. Former player Tendai Mtawarira described Kolisi as “a great leader”.
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For former rugby player Tendai Mtawarira, bringing people from different backgrounds together is important, calling South African rugby star Siya Kolisi a “great leader”. Mtawarira said Kolisi led the team to win the 2019 World Cup because of his ability to “bring the best out of everyone”.
“(He created) an environment that was very conducive to everyone, where everyone felt like they belonged. You know, their culture and their traditions were considered and accepted,” he said of Colisi.
Mtawarira runs The Beast Foundation, which helps young people gain life skills through education and sport, and launches the “Lead Like a Girl” scholarship for teenage girls. “If we can… upskill our young people and create a thriving workforce, then we will see a better world and a better Africa,” he said.
Meanwhile, entrepreneur Laura Stokoe urged policymakers to do more to combat climate change. “Our generation… we are anxious about the way the world is dealing with climate change, and we don’t agree with the leadership that’s been given,” she said.
Stocco is the founder of Openversum, a company that provides clean water technology through a “micro-franchise” model, training women in countries such as Colombia and Uganda to assemble and sell water filters, Stocco said they can become “change agents in their communities” “.
Leadership, she said, is about problem solving. “If you don’t listen, you’re going to … try to implement wonderful changes and solutions that you think are solutions, but the people you’re trying to lead don’t need or want them,” she said.
Asked what young leaders want, Stokoe said: “We want to be heard and we want to be able to take action so that we can actually design the future we want.”
