It is a litany of stories of men in bloody, violent confrontation and conquest. Boil it down to simple terms: men have been in charge, women have been treated as property, and nature has been plundered rapaciously and relentlessly. Think about the human journey over the past three or four thousand years. The world is becoming a stage for the emerging political power and leadership of women, locally, nationally, and globally. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if all politicians thought that way? Jacinda Ardern’s record shows she not only “talks the talk, she walks the walk”. “I am a thinker, and I do muse over things a lot and am constantly assessing whether I am doing enough or what I should be doing more of to make sure I am not letting anyone down.” – Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister, New Zealand She has successfully navigated the thorniest of issues from gun violence, to marshaling a hugely successful nation-response to COVID, to shaping a transformative, clean energy policy for New Zealand.

Recently re-elected to a second term, Ardern’s leadership is shaped by a potent blend of compassion, charisma, and steely resolve. The number two political leader in the United States is now a woman of color.Īrguably, the most effective political leader in the world today is New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. Four of the five Scandinavian social democracies are now led by women. That may seem like a pittance, but ten years ago that number was just seven.Īngela Merkel, who is generally considered the de facto ‘leader’ of Europe, has been German Chancellor for 15 years. Consider that of the 206 sovereign nations worldwide, 24 are now led politically by women. In a meeting with Nobel Laureates in 2015, the Dalai Lama said, “Western women will save the world.” By any measure, that is a remarkably bold statement, especially coming from a non-western, Buddhist male spiritual leader.Īs we move into the third decade of the 21st century, the evidence to support this contention is mounting.

Dalai lama quotes about men