What if power didn’t have to look like dominance, control, or ego?
What if true leadership could be rooted in empathy, humility, and compassion?
Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, invites us into this possibility with her book A Different Kind of Power. And I have to say, it’s not just a title, it’s a movement.
I listened to this on audiobook, read by Jacinda herself, and it honestly felt like we were sitting together over a warm cup of tea. Her words are grounded, authentic, and powerful in a way that whispers rather than shouts. In a world full of noise, her voice is a soothing reminder that you can be both strong and soft, decisive and kind.
Ardern’s story is a masterclass in leading with heart. She doesn’t just tell you what she believes, she lives it. From her compassionate response to tragedy, to her authenticity on the world stage, Jacinda models what it means to lead as a human being. And she does it all while being unapologetically herself; a woman, a mother, a global leader and a change-maker.
One of the most poignant moments in the book for me was when she said:
“Women shouldn’t have to choose – the way our mothers so often did – between being good at their profession and being a good mother, or daughter. There should be support networks, a village, whatever you call it, that can help them be all of those things without completely losing themselves in the process.”
As a midlife woman who spent 25 years in the legal profession and raised a family through it all, this quote hit home. I’ve been that woman walking the tightrope, carrying the weight of responsibility with very little space to simply be. And now, through my coaching, I meet women every day who are still trying to hold it all together without losing themselves.
In this book, Ardern shows us that kindness is not a weakness. That empathy isn’t a side-note to leadership. It is leadership. And in doing so, she challenges us all to reconsider what power can look like.
She reminds us:
“The things you thought would cripple you will in fact make you stronger, make you better. They will give you a different kind of power, and make you a leader that this world, with all its turmoil, might just need.”
That line gave me goosebumps. It reminded me of my own pivot, from law to coaching. It was terrifying, uncertain, and completely unfamiliar. But it’s also where I discovered my real power. Not in the title. Not in the role. But in the truth of who I am.
In a world that’s often dominated by ego, fear, and force, Ardern offers a refreshing, necessary alternative. Imagine a global landscape shaped by emotional intelligence, deep listening, and a genuine care for humanity. No wars. No dictatorships. No threats to global safety. Just leaders who lead with from within.
It’s the kind of world I want to live in.
This book resonated with something deep inside me. Something I see in so many women I work with. That quiet, often hidden part of us that longs to lead with heart and courage. That wants to be seen and heard without hardening or performing.
Jacinda Ardern reminds us that this is not only possible, it’s powerful.
If you’re looking for a story that will stir your soul, make you think differently about leadership, and reignite your belief in the good, A Different Kind of Power is for you.
Highly recommend this one. Let it be the reminder that your version of leadership, your feminine strength, and your inner wisdom matter.
Because we don’t need to lead like the world always has.
We’re here to lead like the world should be.
By Jacqui Hawkins
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