identify a historical or modern-day woman leader and reflect on some of the challenges she faced in leadership.
Specifically, you must address the following rubric criteria:
Identify a famous woman leader and summarize the main challenges she faced in positions of leadership.
Explain how she overcame these challenges.
Identify 2–4 best practices used by this leader. Support your claims with relevant examples.
Discuss how you might implement these best practices in your leadership roles.
Overcoming Challenges
Ardern overcame these challenges by consistently prioritizing empathy and transparency. In the wake of the Christchurch shootings, she immediately put on a hijab to show solidarity with the Muslim community, a powerful and symbolic gesture. She acted swiftly to ban semi-automatic weapons, a decisive move that demonstrated strong leadership. During the pandemic, she held daily press conferences with clear, calm messaging, building public trust and ensuring widespread compliance with public health measures. Her approach of “be kind” wasn't just a slogan; it was a core part of her strategy to unite the country in the face of adversity. By being open about her personal life and showing vulnerability, she normalized being a woman and a mother in a leadership role, effectively dismantling some of the gendered stereotypes that were used against her.
Sample Answer
A powerful modern-day woman leader is Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand. Ardern's leadership was defined by a unique blend of empathy and decisive action, yet she faced significant challenges that tested her resilience and leadership style.
Challenges Faced
One of the main challenges Ardern faced was leading during multiple large-scale crises. She took office just a few years before a series of unprecedented events, including the Christchurch mosque shootings in 2019, the Whakaari/White Island volcanic eruption, and the global COVID-19 pandemic. Each of these crises demanded a rapid, compassionate, and authoritative response, often under intense media scrutiny. Another significant challenge was combating the pervasive gender bias often directed at women in positions of power. Ardern was frequently criticized for her emotional approach, her age, and her decision to have a child while in office, all of which are challenges not typically faced by male leaders.