Three years after leaving office, President Barack Obama remains a symbol of change and hope for millions. Here, he gives six pieces of advice for the next generation of leaders
President Barack Obama has more policy legacies than the average incumbent of the office, whether it's the Affordable Care Act, the Paris Agreement or a thawing of the US-Cuba relationship. But one legacy that might just outlive every single act of legislation in the history books is the sense of hope he engendered, both in the US and around the world.
His leadership inspired a generation of young people to stand up and fight for what they believe in. Since leaving office, the work of the Obama Foundation has been focused on continuing that legacy. Last month, that led to the foundation's inaugural Leaders: Asia-Pacific summit in Kuala Lumpur.
A total of 200 leaders, including 10 Gen.T honourees, were selected from around the region for a fellowship programme, which includes mentorship and training. The summit kicked off the year-long programme with a series of talks and classes focused on social impact.
Speaking to an intimate crowd of fellows and a handful of selected media, including Gen.T, President Obama was relaxed and candid during the talk, sharing his experiences and insights with the room. Here are six of the leadership lessons we took from the session.
See also: Michelle Obama On Leadership, Balance And Battling "Imposter Syndrome"
1. Understand that where you grow up shapes your perspective
"Where you grow up changes that way you look at the world, and that doesn't make you better or worse than somebody else, just different. Growing up in Hawaii means you’re generally happy because the weather is so good all the time. People were always like, 'Barack, you seem so calm, you seem so relaxed'. When it’s 80°F [32°C] and there’s a beach nearby, you feel good. There’s an island spirit that’s important. There’s a genuine sense of co-operation that arises out of the fact you have limited land and resources, and there's an appreciation of the land that informs how I see environmental issues. Even before I knew the word 'environment', I knew throwing trash out the window was really bad."
"Living in Indonesia opened my eyes to how big the world was, it gave me a sense of how people can struggle. When I moved [to Asia] in 1967, Indonesia had just gone through political turmoil, the county was very underdeveloped and there was a lot of poverty. It made me see how society gives so much to some and so little to others, which informed my views. There was also no democracy, and people were afraid of expressing their views. I knew things weren’t always fair: life isn’t always fair yes, but part of the role of a better society is to give all children the option of a good school to go to, and good healthcare, and enough to eat. I also think I appreciated and accepted a certain restraint that comes from living in this part of the world. Modesty is a value that isn’t always highly regarded in the US."