By Shiny/Xuan Feng, PhD student at Ludwig Maximilians, University, Munich, Germany

A review of the exhibit, LEADERSHIP by Example: A Tribute to Frances Hesselbein, an online exhibit at the KNOWLEDGE GALLERY at the Global Dialogue Center.

This condensed, inspiring talk depicts the extraordinary journey and the life message of an outstanding woman who has assumed superb leadership roles in different organizations and spent all her life promoting young leaders and diversity around the world.

In this 1 hour and 15 min interview, Mrs. Hesselbein shares with us three critical inspiring moments of her own: 1) being guided by her grandmother as a little girl, 2) getting mentored from Peter Drucker as a young leader, and 3) being inspired by a young generation of women and men as a veteran leader herself, decorated with the highest honors.

Beyond this fruitful life journey, Mrs. Hesselbein granted all of us a precious gift of her life message. The philosophy is simple - To Serve is To Live!

To me, Serving in the Hesselbein way, means:

• to listen and respond to people’s need (A Sense of Respect); 
• to include people with different backgrounds (Diversity and Inclusion); 
• to reinforce and provoke the potential and excellence of the young generation wholeheartedly from the behind (Leadership). 

I love Mrs. Hesselbein’s consistent leadership portrait that is based on character and values. It is reflected in her mission of promoting young women and leaders, as well as in each single word she speaks and each action she takes. She proves to me that a woman’s elegance and beauty, as well as her wisdom and merit—are not myth; it endures with her. Most importantly, she displays the consistency between one’s value and one’s leadership practices. This unique consistency makes the message of Mrs. Hesselbein very powerful! For me, she is and will always be a trusted leader and a respected role model.

As a young woman, who has just started her leadership discovery journey, I am truly thankful for having Mrs. Hesselbein’s light in my life. It has changed my perspectives and will always remind me of courage, persistence, positiveness, responsibility, and hard working, no matter in which direction my life will head. May this beautiful light of wisdom help young women and men of our time shine brightly in each one’s own way!