Jacinda Ardern, a self-described "girlie swot", has urged the next generation not to doubt their own potential while accepting an international award for her own leadership.
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The New Zealand prime minister was named the 2020 recipient of the Gleitsman International Activist Award, an honour bestowed by Harvard University's Centre for Public Leadership.
The award comes with a $A203,000 cheque, which Ms Ardern donated back to the school in the form of a scholarship for Kiwi students.
The 40-year-old Labour leader was feted for New Zealand's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic and for her "inclusive politics and principles".
"During this most unprecedented year, (your leadership has been) a model of strength and humility," professor Wendy R. Sherman said during the virtual award ceremony on Wednesday.
Ms Ardern used her acceptance speech to speak about the power of representation and diverse leadership styles.
"If we do not see ourselves and the role models and leaders in front of us how can we possibly imagine that we could do that too?" she said.
"As a kid, I thought politics was a place that could create change a place where you could do good. But I didn't believe it was a place that I could survive.
"You (should not) have to have personal ambition to be a leader.
"You can be human. You can feel and show emotion. You can be kind, empathetic and strong. You can and indeed, you must, be your own kind of leader."
Ms Sherman asked Ms Ardern how she rose to lead New Zealand.
"I was a girlie swot, that's my honest answer!" she laughed, referring to her studious nature at her school, Morrinsville College, in the regional North Island town of her upbringing.
Ms Ardern said she owed much to New Zealand's two female PMs before her, Helen Clark and Jenny Shipley, for creating a path for her to the top job - even while having doubts herself.
"I grew up with female prime ministers. That has meant that it was never a point in my in my life that I can recall where I ever thought, 'I can't do that, because I'm a woman'," she said.
"However, I have on many occasions thought, I cannot do that because it's me.
"Impostor syndrome is real. Everyone must feel like that at some point. But I think it is more acutely felt by women.
"So my message to young people is don't wait for the moment where you suddenly feel ready, because sometimes that moment won't come."
Australian Associated Press
