“Be Curious, Not Cynical”: The Rt. Hon. Dame Jacinda Ardern’s Kelly Lecture
By Lexi Davis
Sitting just four rows from the stage, the view of the O’Shaughnessy seemed breathtaking. Two comfortable-looking chairs sat behind a podium on stage, with a large screen in the background. The lights began to dim, and as President Evans started her introduction to the Kelly Lecture, I could feel the beads of anticipation dripping from my body. Then, with a hug to President Evans, a swift movement to the podium and a surprised look at the standing ovation the crowd gave her, the Right Honourable Dame Jacinda Ardern began to speak.
Ardern was just 37 years old when she became the Prime Minister of New Zealand. Throughout her time in office, she dealt with anything from the COVID-19 pandemic to a live-streamed domestic terror attack against the New Zealand Muslim community. Ardern helped New Zealand see the lowest losses of life of any developed nation during the pandemic. She called for the elimination of violent extremism online and banned military-style semi-automatic weapons. Ardern also championed environmental justice and women’s empowerment while in office. Her accomplishments as Prime Minister have been marveled by many, and the community at St. Catherine University had the honor to hear her speak on leadership this past Friday.
While in leadership positions, Ardern has had a constant battle with imposter syndrome. She joined the New Zealand Labour Party at 17 years old and eventually moved up to become a member of parliament. One of my favorite stories she told during the Kelly Lecture was about the imposter syndrome she felt while working in parliament, as she felt “too sensitive.” She told the audience that she decided to go to someone she deemed the strongest member of parliament, someone who had hit someone else on the head with a folder after being belittled. She asked him what she needed to do to become stronger, and he said that becoming stronger would take away what she brings to the table as a leader: empathy, compassion and sensitivity. She told the audience, “It was the first time I saw my weakness as a strength.”
Ardern eventually moved to become the Deputy Leader of the Labour Party in 2017. Five months later, the Labour Party’s candidate dropped out as the election drew near. In reflecting on the time of looking for a new candidate, Ardern said, “Everyone was looking at me, and I was looking at everyone else.” Regardless, she took on the position her people needed and became Prime Minister of New Zealand in October of 2017.
President Evans and students posing with Ardern.
While Prime Minister, Ardern learned many valuable things about being a strong leader. She maintained optimism throughout every experience, believing in herself and her people. She found that providing transparency to the population was necessary to build trust, which proved especially important during the pandemic. Ardern also discussed how asking questions and listening is essential to being a good leader. By maintaining an open mind, being “curious, not cynical” and constantly asking questions, solutions to issues are more readily visible and compromises are more easily made. These lessons, Ardern said, are necessary takeaways that we must teach the future leaders of tomorrow.
As Ardern exited the stage, I felt a sense of empowerment. Seeing a woman hold such a high position of power with such confidence, grace and humbleness was inspiring. Even when she felt like she didn’t belong, she persevered and held her head high. While standing and clapping with everyone in the audience, I could feel Ardern’s lesson to the young women at St. Kate’s resting peacefully on my shoulders: stay curious, stay kind, and above all, know you can do anything you put your mind to.
