2019 Alberta Student Leadership Summit

Five months after graduation, I quit my job in the Premier’s Office to read books and write about music. It was perhaps the biggest (and best) risk I've ever taken. As leaders, we're constantly expected to have it all together and to "never quit" but effective leadership isn't about gritting our teeth and working until we've isolated ourselves. In fact, we must do the opposite. We, as leaders in the current political moment, must look inwards to our own struggles and humanity if we ever want to be equipped to tackle our goals and larger societal issues. In navigating leadership as a concept and in practice, I’ve realized the importance of being someone who cares deeply and unapologetically not just about society or causes but about themselves. When you hit a wall, I suggest taking a long hard look at yourself and your most meaningful relationships.