The 2024 National Leadership Forum was the first time a stubborn, 21st century, arts-studying university student like myself got to experience having her mind changed about something absolutely and completely.
The Forum is a sought-after event for young leaders in Australia and beyond. Attendees hear from the most impactful figures in the country, from the Prime Minister down. It’s not about politics—though sitting in on question time might make you think otherwise—it’s personal. Leaders share the stories that shaped them, offering insights into how their experiences have influenced their leadership.
When my manager, Laura, told me she was going to nominate me to apply for the position of a delegate at this year’s National Leadership Forum, I won’t lie, I had some doubts. Often when I hear about these things, the first thing that comes to mind is a lot of self-proclaimed important people standing in a room and talking about self-proclaimed important people things.
Laura, however, told me about her experience at the Forum. She talked about how it showed her there was more than one way to be a leader, and that you did not have to be the stereotypical loud and confident type to impactfully lead those around you. This appealed to me. As someone still finding their footing in the corporate world and figuring out where they want to go (probably because studying math and philosophy at the same time has left me more confused than confident), the idea I could make an impact without first climbing the ranks was one that got my attention.
When I asked my boss—the same man who runs our ‘Insights into Negotiation’ course, and who has been in the business of complex contract negotiation for decades—to sponsor me, he didn’t even pretend it was anything other than an examination of my own negotiation skills. Rather than just giving me a yes or no, he gave me a (metaphorical) mark out of 10 and let me know what I could work on to help improve the outcomes of conversations of that nature in the future. Although this approach might be a little unusual, it is difficult to describe the value of advice like that to someone in my position. Quite frankly, when I told my peers, they were jealous. In the end, my negotiation skills must have been alright, as he agreed to sponsor half.
When I imagine a leader, I conjure up images of someone who is unyielding, assertive, and likely emotionally reserved. History has taught us that those who are willing and able to climb to the top are the ones worth remembering. This even seemed to be the case upon first arriving at the Forum—suits, ties, LinkedIn exchanges, and discussions of which Sydney private school people attended were all the rage.
However, as the Forum went on, whilst these ideas were honoured and explored, they were also set aside to consider something equally powerful: the concept of servant leadership and leading from the middle. I heard from individuals whose names were unknown to most delegates, people who had made a difference within their communities without forging a name for themselves. Crucially, these individuals did not fit the stereotypical image one might associate with a leader. They were vulnerable, soft-spoken, and undemanding. They spoke about leading ‘from the middle’ through influence rather than delegation, and being leaders within smaller contexts, with goals not to change the world, but simply to help those immediately around them.
The Forum organisers arranged for delegates to hear from some of the most currently well-known leaders in Australia, (you might have heard of them: Anthony Albanese, Peter Dutton, etc) and so the choice to also hear from those leaders who are lesser known was not done out of necessity, it was an active choice.
Ultimately, the Forum made me realise that although the contributions of those who lead through commanding should never be understated, the world would not function if all leaders adopted that approach. There is power in adhering to your own values, even if they don’t align with leadership through authority. Those who quietly strive to bring out the best in others are responsible for many of the greatest contributions to society, simply through their encouragement and steadfastness. I realised that that leadership can be as much about listening, supporting, and influencing from within as it is about standing at the helm. The Forum highlighted the profound impact of those who lead quietly, not by commanding attention, but by inspiring action through humility, compassion, and a deep commitment to their communities.
Despite my initial scepticism, the Forum totally subverted my expectations. It had a genuine and lasting impact on what leadership means to me and has inspired me as I move forward with my own leadership journey. I have put my name down to volunteer at the Forum next year, and look forward to experiencing it again from the other side (five star but proportionally tiny meals and all).
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