Intelligence Squared The Courage to Lead, with Sanna Marin, Former Prime Minister of Finland (Part One)
Dec 5, 2025
Sanna Marin, the former Prime Minister of Finland and world's youngest leader at 34, shares her journey through exceptional challenges. She reflects on confronting COVID-19, navigating the war in Ukraine, and the swift NATO accession. Marin opens up about the pressures of female leadership, addressing sexism, and her upbringing in a rainbow family, which fueled her commitment to equality. She emphasizes the importance of resilience and courage in leadership, offering insights from her new book, Hope in Action.
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Unexpected Rise To Leadership
- Sanna Marin did not plan to become prime minister and initially resisted the role when thrust into leadership after Antti Rinne fell ill.
- She accepted responsibility saying if others can do it, maybe I can too and stepped up during the election campaign.
Progress Doesn't End Sexist Backlash
- Finland's progressive reputation did not shield Marin and her colleagues from online misogyny and sexist attacks.
- She found the intensity of hate speech and sexualised content surprising even in a Nordic country known for gender equality.
Childhood Protest Over A Forest
- As a child Sanna Marin protested the planned felling of a beloved local forest by singing the national anthem with classmates.
- The immediate loss was replaced when the school organised tree planting, teaching her about turning defeat into constructive action.
