Diverse leadership is no longer an option, it’s a necessity
Written by Miriam Buttu [she/her] Interim CEO of Fora
We face a world beset with unprecedented challenges. A climate in crisis. Spiking inequality. Democracy and human rights under attack. Misinformation weaponized to provoke fear and hatred. We need bold, audacious ideas from bold, audacious leaders if we’re to effectively take back the future. Most importantly, we need leaders who value life, the health of the planet, and reflect the communities who stand to lose the most from this volatility.
What we do not need, what we actually can no longer afford, is more of the same. We need fresh, innovative ideas from people who have traditionally been left out of the boardroom discussion. But look at the state of leadership in Canada. Across the public, private and non-profit sectors, the overwhelming majority of board directors continue to be white, male, and an average of 60-years-old.
Furthermore, only 23.4 per cent of board seats at public and private corporations are filled by women, with less than two per cent held by women under the age of 30. Less than one per cent of boards have Indigenous people or folks with disabilities represented, and just 6.8 per cent have board seats filled by people who are Black, Indigenous or a person of colour.
Organizations claim they value diversity, but that barrier remains intact.
But change is on the way. A new kind of leader is emerging. They bring a human-focused approach and use what privilege they have to support others. They bring their lived experience and emotional intelligence to everything they do. They’re authoritative without being authoritarian. Most importantly, they care deeply about the problems of the world and are dedicated to solving them.
These young leaders aren’t waiting to make their impact on the world – they are making change now.
Personally, I draw inspiration from young people like Zahra Al Hilaly, a 21-year-old first generation Australian from Palestine and Iraq who is a writer, advocate, and public speaker, and the co-founder of the Christmas Island Youth Conference, which trains young people to be active influencers in policy reform.
Or leaders like Titilope Adedokun, who founded SisterlyHQ, a digital, female-focused publication that amplifies the voices of Nigerian women and connects them with social, economic, and political tools and resources.
Or someone like Sana Askari, born in Afghanistan but raised as a refugee in Pakistan, who founded the Esheel Stitching Circle, a social enterprise that employs home-restricted and at-risk women so that they can work while continuing to send their children to school.
These are just three of the young leaders who are part of the Fora community and advocating for a better future around the world. Fora's programs bring together young trailblazers like Zahra, Titilope and Sana for leadership training, global networking, and to tackle some of the world's most pressing issues.
To all the leaders around the world who are young, racialized, neurodivergent, and marginalized, keep taking up space, thinking big and showing up as your authentic selves. While the current systems were not built with you in mind, your innovation, creativity and lived experiences will continue to shift these systems over time.
“We cannot just sit back and wait for the next generation to take the reins.”
For the rest of us, we cannot just sit back and wait for the next generation to take the reins. For those with power and privilege, you can take action immediately to make room for young voices to be meaningfully included. In your community, at your next meeting, on your board. Once you’ve created the space and have welcomed folks in, focus on listening to them, respecting them, and truly including them. And ensure your organization continues to evolve so it doesn’t just welcome a diverse team but supports them.
In Canada and across the globe, we all stand to benefit when we give young people like Zahra, Titilope and Sana, the space to succeed and to lead.
