What will it take to be a successful leader in the future?  

This week, I enjoyed the opportunity to introduce our 2023 Senior School Captains, Ava, and Flora, to our newly appointed Barbreck Junior School Captains, Camilla, and Charlotte. Listening to their conversation over our morning tea, I quickly became aware of how the four girls united with much talk about their excitement and plans for leading the Barbreck and Senior School student bodies.

Given the global turbulence of the past few years, the question “what will it take to be a successful leader in the future” is top of mind these days for many businesses, universities, and large corporations, let alone our School Captains of 12 and 18 years of age. 

I was interested to read about the future of leadership, when change and disruption increasingly seem like the norms for doing business, with the likelihood of a new era requiring new leaders.  

Ann Harrison, the second woman to lead the top-ranked Hass School of Business at the University of California, in Berkeley suggests leaders need to strike a balance between being empathetic, leading from the heart so to speak, with the strength of analytical and technical skills. Harrison seeks to develop in the University of California’s graduating students a dual focus of educational rigor and social obligation, promoting sustainability, inclusion, and social mobility. 

“Confidence without attitude is critical for today’s leaders. That’s been shown to be particularly true in the last several years when we’ve had so many challenging things to go through. More than ever, it’s important to be a great listener and not think that you know all the answers.” 

I could not help but think of our own St Catherine’s Captains when reading this. Flora, Ava, Camilla, and Charlotte, despite their youthful age, all demonstrate a level of humility and appreciation of the leadership opportunity bestowed upon them for the year ahead.  

Harnessing the voice, energy and enthusiasm of the student body comes with great responsibility and a deep sense of service and stewardship, which I believe these remarkable young women have already grasped. Their opportunity is one that requires careful planning, seeking to connect a theme while listening and looking to inject the ideas of others, strategically weaving them through the year of activities. 

What will it take to be a successful leader in the future? Quite simply a St Catherine’s education.

Our School has always regarded service and responsibility as integral elements of a girl’s education. We believe every girl must experience some form of leadership whilst at School and be prepared for responsibilities.

From our Year 7 Beyond Boundaries Camp experiences, Year 9 Critical Conversations Humanities Program – that strengthens every girl’s voice at the table, to St Catherine’s unique Leadership Diploma offered in Years 9 to 11, Student Representative Council positions and captaincy roles in Year 12, leadership skills are nurtured in every girl commencing in our Senior School.

So to in our Junior School, with the introduction of the Barbreck Ambassador Leadership Program for girls in Years 5 and 6, and our vibrant House System in both the Junior and Senior Schools providing students with opportunities to lead across a wide range of interests.

All our students are guided throughout their School journey to critically evaluate their emotions and experiences, navigate their own solutions to challenges, build positive relationships, commit to their learning, explore their leadership skills, and embrace good citizenship and social responsibility. They all have the capacity and foundation to be the leaders we need tomorrow. 

Michelle Carroll

Principal

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