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Jacinda Ardern Advocates for Empathy in Politics through New Memoir

The former New Zealand prime minister emphasizes kindness as a solution for global challenges.

By Alisha Haridasani GuptaSource: nytimes.com1 min read
Jacinda Ardern Advocates for Empathy in Politics through New Memoir
Image via nytimes.com

In brief

Jacinda Ardern shares her transition to life after leadership, her new roles at Harvard, and the release of her memoir, "A Different Kind of Power."

Jacinda Ardern, the former prime minister of New Zealand, is catching attention once again, but this time it’s through her recently published memoir, "A Different Kind of Power." Currently residing in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Ardern holds three fellowships at Harvard University and is enjoying life away from the spotlight. Since resigning in 2023, she married her partner Clarke Gayford and is savoring her time with their six-year-old daughter, who is just beginning to comprehend her mother's past role as a world leader.During a casual visit to a nearby café, Ardern, cloaked in the casual elegance of a Juliette Hogan suit, found herself mistaken for Australian actress Toni Collette, a mix-up she humorously allowed to slide. Despite the backdrop of a tense academic environment challenged by legal disputes with the Trump administration, Ardern's focus remains on the positive influence of empathy in leadership.In her memoir, released earlier this week, she contends that embracing kindness may be the antidote to various global crises. The book highlights the importance of compassion in policymaking, a theme that resonates in her current academic pursuits. Whether her message of emotional leadership will find traction amid current political tensions remains to be seen, but it marks a notable shift from her previous high-profile existence, as she settles into this new, quieter chapter of her life in America.

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