Leadership Nugget: Who is a leader? A young girl that defines a leader.

Dear leader,

It is not the CEO, wealthy entrepreneur, PHD holder, politician or any other stereotypical leadership position that makes a leader. The world sees a leader as someone who has position, wealth or power. Yes, these might be important things to have as it open doors and gives you some element of influence but it is nothing if you are not influencing and impacting lives in a positive way.

A young twelve year old girl from one of the largest cities in the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province of Pakistan started writing a blog for the BBC on her life under the Taliban rule and to promote education for girls. Her blogs started getting attention and she began to gain public profile. She was shot in the head at a point blank range on the 9^th of October 2012. An attack that was meant to silence her forever has now given her an even louder voice. She survived and was catapulted into international limelight; she has brought the issue of girls’ education to the world’s attention. She has made possible what many International Non Governmental Organizations’ (INGOs) has been spending millions in funds trying to do. She is influencing young and old across the world to give girls the same access to basic education as would be given to boys. She is influencing and impacting her world positively.

I see a great example of a leader in this young girl. Her name is Malala Yousafzai. She is my leader. She inspires me to continue to strive to add value to people; to continue living out my passion for empowering others through knowledge sharing and education.

What can we learn from Malala?

Leadership starts from the heart; hers was full of passion to be educated and for all girls to be education, so that they can have a life full of possibilities, potentials and options.

A leader has the courage to follow their passion irrespective of the risk to their life. “I don't mind if I have to sit on the floor at School. All I want is education, and I'm afraid of no one" Malala Yousafzai.

A leader never gives up; she did not let her attack stop her, within months she was back in school with even more determination to continue her mission.

A leader care for people and make helping others their life’s mission.
“My purpose is to serve humanity” Malala Yousafzai (5^TH April 2012). That says it all.

Have an impactful week.