Leadership today is more complex than ever. Uncertainty is no longer hidden. It’s front and center, demanding courage and adaptability from those at the helm. In a recent conversation, Senator Paulette Senior and Scott Haldani reflected on what it truly means to lead in these times.
“Change is inevitable,” Senator Senior shared. “You can’t navigate it unless you understand yourself, including your strengths and vulnerabilities. Courage means standing firm even when the future isn’t visible while helping others believe in what’s possible.”
For Senator Senior, this lesson was amplified during her decade as CEO of YWCA Canada. “Leading a national federation is like no other role,” she explained. “You’re running an organization while leading a movement. Our model was an upside-down triangle, with the national CEO at the bottom, holding up the rest. That required humility, relationship-building, and trust.”
Leading With Presence, Purpose, and People
Senator Senior emphasized a leadership approach rooted in presence and intentionality: “Trying to lead with, lead for, lead beside—you need to be grounded. Understand that change is inevitable. Things will come that you can’t predict, but through it all, it’s about standing your ground and helping people see a future that isn’t yet created. Even if you aren’t sure of every detail, having the right people, the right structure, and clarity about what’s in your control makes all the difference.”
She illustrated this with lessons from her own journey: “There were things I didn’t know how to do—like fundraising—but I knew my passion for it. Early on, I learned to hire for what I didn’t know and lean into my strengths: advocacy, courage, and the ability to stand firm in the face of challenges.”
Senator Senior described a pivotal lesson from her leadership experience: “Leadership is often about making decisions without complete certainty. For example, when implementing new programs or advocating for systemic change, there were times I didn’t know how the outcomes would unfold. But having a grounded strategy, trusting my team, and staying aligned with our values allowed us to move forward with confidence.”
Scott Haldani agreed, emphasizing that courage is inseparable from collaboration: “I learned early that I didn’t need to know everything. I needed the right people. Hiring well and trusting them to do what they do best has always been key.”
Both leaders underscored that navigating change is not about having all the answers. It’s about building strong teams, focusing on what you can control, and embracing the unknown with confidence. Leadership, they concluded, is about helping others see a future that isn’t yet visible and walking that path together.