Leaders to be change agents
You will put well-known personalities and yourself under the microscope to learn what makes you and the individuals you select not only leaders but also what it takes for leaders to be change agents.
Choose any two leaders who you consider to have been very successful change agents and two who you believe have been unsuccessful change agents.
Write a brief biography of each of the leaders you selected.
What were the leaders’ bases of power? How was it gained? What was their reach or influence?
How did the leaders find themselves in the position to serve as change agents? Describe the situation, including the need for a change agent.
Were the leaders successful change agents?
What made the leaders successful or unsuccessful change agents?
Sample Solution
The first leader I have chosen who has been very successful as a change agent is Malala Yousafzai. Born in Pakistan, Malala was an advocate for education reform and women’s rights from a young age and at the age of 11 she became the youngest person ever to become an official UN Messenger of Peace (“Malala Yousufzai” 2021). Her base of power came from her ability to communicate and relate to people through her public speaking which was backed up by knowledge and expertise on the subject matter; this provided her with credibility when addressing educational disparities as it showed she had dedicated time towards understanding the issues at hand.
Her reach too was impressive as she used media outlets such as YouTube or interviews on BBC radio shows in order to spread awareness about educational gender gaps in developing countries (Fluharty., 2018). Such actions allowed Malala to influence both local citizens along with international figures like United Nations Secretary General António Guterres who publicly acknowledged her work during his keynote speech at the 2017 Global Education Summit hosted by Britain’s Prime Minister Theresa May (Hansen., 2017). Ultimately this proved invaluable for furthering her mission since it presented tangible evidence that those in higher positions were willing to recognize progress achieved by individuals who were willing to fight for their cause.
Meanwhile one leader who I believe has been unsuccessful at being a change agent is Kim Kardashian West. While Kim may be known today primarily due to reality television stardom, she originally made headlines after gaining fame via leaked sex tapes which showcased her semi-nude body; this lead many commentators criticizing Kardashian West for relying solely on physical attractiveness rather than any real talent or skill set when pursuing success (Kang & Lee., 2016). Consequently, while she does possess certain bases of power such as financial resources most are derived from sources other than positive societal contributions thus limiting her impact when promoting change even if they do provide access into circles otherwise difficult to enter. This is evidenced via countless failed endorsements stemming from various campaigns which either lack true engagement or simply fizzle out without making any meaningful impact whatsoever (Geller & Vigoda-Gadot., 2019) . Therefore despite possessing considerable wealth and exposure due to vast media coverage, Kim Kardashian West fails miserably when compared against more successful agents like Malala Yousafzai who possess similar characteristics but back them up with actionable plans rather than empty promises.
