With great power comes great responsibility – and public scrutiny

This time of year, when the nights draw in and the snuggly jumpers come out of the wardrobe, is one of my favourite seasons: a time for cosiness and contemplation, for taking stock of the year that is drawing to a close while also looking ahead to the future and forging plans.

Of course, 2024 isn’t quite done with us yet; there are still some pretty momentous events ahead, perhaps none more so than the upcoming US presidential election. I’ve currently got a front-row seat for the last couple of weeks of the campaign as I spend time in one of the most vibrant and exciting cities in the whole world: New York! 

The setting for some of my favourite movies and a place full of iconic landmarks, this is a metropolis that thrums with a unique energy and which, truly, never sleeps. At any given time, it feels like there are a million conversations taking place all at once, and New Yorkers are never shy in sharing their opinions. As you might expect, one of the biggest talking points right now is the showdown on 5th November  between Donald Trump – who is in some ways an emblem of the Big Apple and one of its many famous native sons – and California’s Kamala Harris, who stands to become the first female president of the United States of America.

Much of the rhetoric surrounding this election is positively apocalyptic. Some are convinced that another term under ‘the Donald’ will spell the end of Western democracy as we know it. Others claim that a victory for Harris will usher in an era of progressive hyper-liberalism that will destroy the fabric of American society. Both camps are entrenched and divided like never before.

Though I’m (mostly) managing to tune out this background cacophony and enjoy my time in this utterly energising place, I can’t help but reflect on the sheer level of scrutiny that comes with putting yourself forward for office, especially in light of my own recent presidential candidacy (albeit on a much smaller scale). 

Whether in politics or in business, leaders must necessarily expose themselves to the judgement of others because of the great power they wield over, and the grave responsibility they have towards, those they govern. In any functioning organisation or democracy, truth must always be spoken to power, no matter how uncomfortable the message may be to hear. It’s just one of the things that makes leadership so tough, as it should be.

In order to successfully lead others, and to withstand the glare of public interest in you as a private individual (which only increases with the scale of your ambition and achievements), it’s therefore essential that you know your own values and do your very best to live by them every single day. Because nothing takes the shine off people’s respect for their leaders faster than seeing them fail to practise in private what they preach in public – just cast your mind back to Partygate or the more recent business of those Taylor Swift concert tickets for some examples close to home. And also because a leader without strong principles to guide them will quickly become lost on their journey to fulfilling their mandate.

It goes without saying that even the most successful leaders never get everything right all the time. As Einstein once said, ‘A person who never made a mistake never tried anything new’. I have made plenty of mistakes and experienced many a setback as an entrepreneur, as a charity founder and, most recently, as a presidential candidate. But those mistakes and setbacks have taught me an awful lot, both about myself and the nature of leadership – not least that I am nothing if not resilient and determined.

Whoever emerges victorious on 5th November, I hope for all our sakes that they too are open to the guiding powers of self-knowledge and are willing to learn from their mistakes, of which there are bound to be plenty. 

This month, I am excited about…

Our “Women Who Will” Class of 2024 is being unveiled on 5 November and I am thrilled with the names on the list and how the report is shaping up. I can't believe this lockdown project is now in its 5th year! 

Obviously, the next couple of weeks will see us working on getting the best Awards yet prepared for the 9th Inspirational Women In Law Awards 2024 - if you want to join us, there's still time to donate and reserve your spot - follow this link.

Hope to see you there!