Leaders Grooming of Tomorrow

Being present to watch the Obamas live, it struck me how down-to-earth and charismatic they are. Even as they addressed the packed Connexion Conference and Event Centre in Nexus Bangsar South, it felt as if they were speaking directly to you—showcasing kindness, empathy and dare I say it, vulnerability.

It sounds like a paradox, but if you ask the Obamas, they believe that real leadership should stem from the willingness to be vulnerable. “When you work in community building, you have to be vulnerable as a leader. When you do that, you open up other people’s vulnerabilities and everyone can give a little more to what you are working on,” said Michelle Obama in conversation with her friend and Oscar-winning actress, Julia