Jasjit Dillon, DDS, MBBS, FDSRCS, FACS

In order to be able to make it, you have to put aside the fear of failing and the desire of succeeding. You have to do these things completely and purely without fear, without desire. Because things that we do without lust of result are the purest actions we shall ever take. – Alan Moore

I suspect only a few of you will recognize the name [Moore], but you will recognize what he is famous for – authoring Watchmen and V for Vendetta. Within our microcosms of intersectionality, relationships, societal interactions, and careers, we are all leaders in our own right. We lead our lives; we make minute decisions that may reap greater impacts or consequences. As leaders, we must “put aside the fear of failing”. But what distinguishes a good leader from a great leader? Is it fearlessness? Some say it is to influence, to inspire and guide others to become their best selves. But why even bother becoming a leader when it is so much simpler to take the easy road and not potentially fail? I have come to realize, especially in light of the pandemic, that leadership is not just your title, but rather why you are in that role and what you bring to it.

When pondering the answers to these queries, I recalled seeing Angela Merkel attend her final European Council Summit after sixteen years of service. As the first female Chancellor of Germany, she is an impressive figurehead in European politics, who notably had a background in science. She studied physics and chemistry and was an Assistant Professor at an engineering school in Germany. I grew up in the times of Margaret Thatcher – the Iron Lady. As an icon of British politics, she was Prime Minister from 1979-1990. While these two ladies were very different in style, they shared many similarities when considering leadership. For both, family and childhood played a pivotal role in who there are/were.