Jacinda Ardern talks stepping down as prime minister of New Zealand l GMA

Summary

In an interview, former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern discusses her unexpected resignation, emphasizing the importance of acknowledging personal limits in leadership. She reflects on her unique journey as a young, empathetic leader and a mother, challenging traditional leadership norms. Ardern shares her current role at Harvard, focusing on online safety and combating extremism, and hints at an upcoming book detailing her experiences and insights. She expresses optimism for the future, highlighting the need for empathy and kindness in leadership.

Takeaways

• 🌍 The former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, surprised the world with her resignation, sparking global discussions on leadership and personal boundaries.
• 🎤 In her victory speech, Ardern emphasized that leaders can come from diverse backgrounds and possess various traits, challenging traditional views on what a leader should be.
• 🙏 She received gratitude from many, especially women, for demonstrating that it's acceptable to admit when one is tired or lacks the energy to perform at their best.
• 🔥 Ardern differentiated her decision to resign from burnout, stating it was about having enough to do the job well, not just continuing to endure.
• 🌱 She broke barriers as the youngest Prime Minister in over 150 years and the second world leader to give birth while in office, inspiring others to see leadership as accessible.
• 🌐 Post-resignation, Ardern is at Harvard as a fellow, focusing on making online environments safer and addressing the challenges of AI and violent extremism.
• 📚 She plans to write a book, shifting from her initial reluctance, to share her experiences and insights on leadership and being human in a public role.
• 🏆 Ardern is also involved with Prince William's Earthshot Prize, working on climate-related projects, showing her continued commitment to global issues.
• 🎉 She expressed a desire to be more present for her family and to continue being useful in her post-political life, balancing personal and professional aspirations.
• 🤗 Ardern misses the people of New Zealand and the honor of serving them, highlighting the human connection in her political career.

Q & A

Why did the former Prime Minister of New Zealand resign from her position?

She felt she did not have enough left in her 'tank' to do the job well, indicating it was more about her personal capacity to continue rather than burnout.

How did the public react to her resignation?

The reaction was overwhelming, with discussions triggered globally about leadership decisions, especially among women who appreciated her honesty about personal limits.

What did she mean when she said 'you can be all of these things and lead' in her victory speech?

She was emphasizing that leaders can come from diverse backgrounds and possess various traits, such as being a nerd, a crier, or a hugger, and still be effective.

What is her current role at Harvard?

She is a fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School, focusing on issues related to ensuring online safety and combating violent extremism and terrorism.

How does she feel about the characterization of her decision to resign as 'burnout'?

She differentiates her decision from burnout, stating she could have continued but chose to resign because she felt she no longer had the capacity to do the job to the best of her ability.

What are her thoughts on the role of empathy and kindness in leadership?

She believes empathy and kindness are necessary traits for leadership, suggesting they are often overlooked but are crucial for effective leadership.

Why did she decide to write a book after previously stating she would not?

Initially, she was reluctant to write about specific political events, but she changed her mind when considering sharing her human experiences and current adventures.

What is she working on related to the environment and climate?

She is involved with Prince William's Earthshot Prize, working on climate-related projects, indicating her continued interest and engagement in environmental issues.

How does she feel about her time in politics and what she misses the most?

She misses the people she met and served during her time in politics, highlighting the honor she felt in serving them.

What is her perspective on the challenges and opportunities in the world today?

Despite acknowledging the challenges, she expresses optimism and a sense of adventure, suggesting a belief in the potential for positive change.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Leadership Beyond Borders: Jacinda Ardern's Resignation and Legacy

In this segment, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, is interviewed following her unexpected resignation. She discusses the significance of leadership, emphasizing that it's not defined by traditional or stereotypical characteristics. Ardern shares her thoughts on the reactions to her resignation, particularly the gratitude from women who appreciated her honesty about personal limits. She clarifies that her decision was not due to burnout but a self-assessment of her capacity to continue leading effectively. The conversation also touches on her unique leadership style, being the youngest PM in over 150 years and only the second world leader to give birth while in office, and how she hopes her example can inspire others to lead authentically. Post-resignation, Ardern is engaged in fellowships at Harvard, focusing on creating safe online environments and combating violent extremism and terrorism.

05:00

📚 From Politics to Pages: Jacinda Ardern's Upcoming Book and Future Endeavors

The second paragraph reveals former Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's plans to write a book, a decision influenced by the desire to share her human experiences rather than political specifics. She intends to include stories from her current adventures, such as her work with Prince William's Earthshot Prize on climate issues. Ardern expresses optimism about the world's challenges and her continued involvement in meaningful projects. She also humorously recounts her experience skydiving, highlighting the adventurous spirit of New Zealanders. The interview concludes with Ardern reflecting on what she misses most about her country—the people—and her commitment to serve them during her time in politics. The segment ends with a warm invitation for her to return and share updates on her book and other projects.

Keywords

💡Resignation

Resignation refers to the act of officially giving up a position or office. In the context of the video, it is significant as it pertains to the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern, who resigned from her position, surprising both her country and the world. Her resignation sparked discussions about leadership and personal limits, as she chose to step down to prioritize her well-being and ability to lead effectively.

💡Leadership

Leadership is the act of leading a group of people or an organization. The video discusses the various facets of leadership, emphasizing that it is not confined to traditional or stereotypical characteristics. Jacinda Ardern's victory speech and her subsequent resignation highlighted the importance of empathy, kindness, and the ability to show vulnerability as strengths in leadership.

💡Burnout

Burnout is a state of chronic physical and emotional exhaustion caused by prolonged stress. While discussing her resignation, Ardern differentiates between burnout and her personal decision to resign, stating that it was not burnout but rather a realization that she did not have enough reserves to continue leading effectively. This distinction is important as it challenges the stigma around stepping back from leadership roles.

💡Empathy

Empathy is the ability to understand and share the feelings of others. In the video, empathy is presented as a crucial quality for leaders, suggesting that it can lead to more compassionate and effective leadership. Ardern's emphasis on empathy as a strength, rather than a weakness, challenges traditional perceptions of leadership that often prioritize toughness over emotional intelligence.

💡Vulnerability

Vulnerability refers to the state of being open to attack or damage, but in a personal context, it can also mean the willingness to show one's true feelings or weaknesses. The video highlights Ardern's view of vulnerability as a strength, particularly in leadership. She believes that showing all aspects of oneself, including vulnerabilities, can be empowering and lead to more authentic connections with others.

💡Optimism

Optimism is the tendency to be hopeful and look forward to the best possible outcome. In the video, Ardern speaks about the importance of maintaining optimism in the face of challenges. This outlook is reflected in her post-political life as she continues to engage in meaningful work and explore new adventures, demonstrating a positive approach to life after leadership.

💡Harvard Fellowship

A fellowship is an award granted to support the studies or research of a student or scholar. In the video, Ardern mentions her current engagement as a fellow at Harvard University, where she is taking time to think, engage with faculty, and work on issues related to online safety and combating violent extremism. This new role signifies her continued commitment to public service and leadership outside of political office.

💡Climate Change

Climate change refers to long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns. The video mentions Ardern's involvement with Prince William's Earthshot Prize, which focuses on climate change initiatives. This involvement underscores her ongoing dedication to environmental issues and her desire to contribute to global efforts to combat climate change.

💡Online Safety

Online safety refers to the protection of individuals and their data while using the internet. Ardern discusses her work on ensuring online safety, particularly in the context of violent extremism and terrorism. This work is a continuation of her efforts while in office and reflects her commitment to creating a safer digital environment.

💡Artificial Intelligence (AI)

Artificial Intelligence refers to the simulation of human intelligence in machines that are programmed to think like humans and mimic their actions. In the video, Ardern mentions the need to prepare for the challenges of AI, especially in the context of online platforms and terrorism. This highlights the importance of understanding and managing the implications of emerging technologies in modern society.

Highlights

Former Prime Minister of New Zealand discusses the meaning of leadership and her resignation.

She emphasizes the importance of acknowledging personal limits and the need for self-care in leadership roles.

Jacinda Ardern shares her experience as a young female leader and mother while in office.

Ardern talks about the challenges of being a leader with empathetic and sensitive traits in a traditionally tough political environment.

She reflects on her decision to resign, distinguishing between burnout and the realization of not having enough to perform well.

Ardern discusses the global reaction to her resignation and the discussions it sparked about leadership and self-care.

She highlights the need for empathy and kindness in leadership roles.

Ardern shares her current life after leaving the prime minister position, including her focus on family and new projects.

She is currently at Harvard as a fellow, working on issues related to online safety and combating violent extremism.

Ardern discusses the challenges of dealing with the live-streamed terrorist attack in New Zealand and her ongoing work in this area.

She talks about the emerging challenges of AI and the need to prepare for its impact on online safety.

Ardern reveals her plans to write a book, focusing on her experiences as a human and leader rather than political events.

She mentions her involvement with Prince William's Earthshot Prize, working on climate change initiatives.

Ardern expresses optimism about the world's challenges and the importance of adventure in life.

She reflects on what she misses most about New Zealand and the people she had the honor to serve.

Ardern humorously discusses her experience skydiving and the adventurous spirit of New Zealanders.

The interview concludes with Ardern's promise to return and her appreciation for the discussion.

Transcripts

now to write honorable day to send an

order the former prime minister of New

Zealand who resigned her position

surprising her country in the world in

her victory speech but she shared about

what it means to be a leader take a

listen to this

you can be anxious

to smear your heart

you can be an ex-mormon or not you can

be a nerd a crier a hugger you can be

all of these things

and not only can you be here

you can lead

just like me

a lot of people were listening and

Jacinda are done is with us live here in

the studio I'm so glad to finally meet

you we were supposed to meet when we

were when our team and I we were in New

Zealand but you resigned

and completely ruined our plans and I

remember at the time of doing it

thinking oh no I'm so sorry no no not at

all not at all but it wasn't quite a

surprise to the world and um how did you

respond to the reaction from folks of

your resignation I I to be honest was

overwhelmed by the fact that Beyond New

Zealand sure it triggered a discussion

about how we make these decisions

and I've had particularly a few women

say to me thank you for showing me that

it's okay to say that I'm tired or it's

okay to say I don't have enough in the

tank anymore to do a job well because I

think we carry a huge sense of

responsibility to just keep going and

you know and the way you said it you

said which a lot of people can relate to

women in particular just didn't have

enough in the tank to do the job that

you wanted to do some people turned that

as burnout yes that was how did you deal

with that kind of characterization yeah

I I see them as very different I could

have kept going but for me having been

through a period where we did experience

a lot of crises in New Zealand it was

whether or not I had enough to do the

job well and the answer for me

personally was no it's time for someone

else so a bit different than burnout

yeah yes I would say so as well and we

and we heard it in your speech which

many people commented on and you uh

broke the mold in so many ways you were

the youngest prime minister in New

Zealand and more than 150 years only the

second world leader to give birth while

in office was that a call to other

nations a challenge to them to say hey

look at what a leader can be I think it

might have been pepsical

to other reluctant leaders you know to

to those out there who may think that

they don't have the character traits as

they see themselves as it has been too

sensitive not tough enough or you know

roles in leadership particularly

politics has been a place where that

would be a hard set of character traits

to bring to the table I think they're

necessary ones if you're sensitive or

often means you're empathetic and we

need more empathy in leadership we need

more kindness and Leadership so I hope

it was a call to action to anyone who's

holding themselves back and I've always

looked as vulnerability as a strength of

a weakness and to be able to show all

sides of yourself so what's life now

after being prime minister I see you

posting pictures ago the World Cup

you're at the playground you're at

birthdays yes it is very different but

one of the things I wanted to do was to

be more present for my family so I'm

certainly trying to do that but I also

still want to be useful and so I'm at

the moment I'm very lucky to be in

Boston I'm at Harvard three fellowships

yeah so taking a bit of time to think

and I've been wonderful I've got access

to Fantastic faculty but importantly

inspirational students and also working

on some issues around how we safely

ensure that online is a safe environment

so that's one of the things I'm working

on and you know because you did face

some challenges of course as prime

minister and and one of those were the

terrorist attacks at the um at this

Seminary no not seminaries

yes exactly and that led to some work

yeah um that you are you wanting to

continue some of that work at Harvard

how so yes that attack was live streamed

and it was one of the first times we saw

such an atrocious attack

in that Forum an online on an online

platform in that way and so New Zealand

as a whole said we don't want anyone

else to experience that so we've started

work with tech companies uh governments

and Civil Society we've been doing it

for several years to try and read the

online environment to Violent extremism

and terrorism and now the next step is

this new emerging technology we need to

keep being prepared for the challenges

of AI in that space so that's another

small project I work with great people

on yeah because people are still trying

to understand AI you say Ai and people

are kind of wondering

I hear you're going to write a book now

I thought you said at one point you were

not going to write a book so what what

changed your mind well I thought I

didn't want to write about the in the

the small individual political things

that happened in New Zealand over the

past five years uh I thought you know so

so much of that

um would only be of interest to a small

group of people and I didn't want to

betray the confidence of all my

colleagues and those I worked with but

then someone expressed to me in a

different way what if you just wrote

about what it was like as a human and so

it they changed my mind and so now I'm

really just writing a few stories

and I hope to include some of you know

my current Adventures I'm doing exciting

projects like working with the team at

Earth's shop Prince William's uh prize

on climate that's where you were last

night where I was last night and just uh

through you know the different ventures

of being able to be a part of share yeah

we have some challenges in the world but

there's a reason to be optimistic as

well yeah and you bring that up optimism

and you talk about Adventure that is New

Zealand I don't know if you saw but I

jumped off the sky tower my team

convinced me to do have you ever done

that well because no one no one does

this in New Zealand other than people

who visit it because people like your

team convince you it's a good idea it's

about living more absolutely and this is

one of the beautiful things about New

Zealand we don't have snakes so we find

other ways to kill ourselves

what do you miss most about your country

oh I've only been away a short time but

I have to say

um uh people the people that are just

amazing and that's the the thing I miss

about politics is I met amazing people

it was an honor to serve all of them

well we'll see what you do next thank

you and that's the book and I hope that

you'll come back when things like that

it is a delight you were worth the wait

oh thank you all the best for you and

please come back and visit us I will do

I'm not jumping off the sky tower again

well hey there GMA fans Robin Roberts

here thanks for checking out our YouTube

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