Dame Jacinda Ardern's rise to the top wasn't down to destiny. In fact, the first job she wanted was to be a clown. Then she tried (and failed) in a Lord of the Rings audition to be a hobbit.
But what would come later would be a bigger role that would eclipse any of her prior attempts at a life on screen. After an unexpected election victory in 2017, she became the world's youngest female leader (and a global media sensation).
For many, Jacinda's story channels what people in New Zealand know as Mana Wāhine -- a Māori phrase that refers to women of strength. It's something that was explored in a recent panel where women across the arts, sport and politics came together to reflect on their journeys, and the responsibilities that emerge once you're at the top.
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