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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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.
Welfare Systems Enable Social Mobility
- Marin's upbringing in a poor, non-traditional family shaped her commitment to welfare and equal opportunity.
- She credits Finland's childcare and education systems for enabling her rise despite economic hardship.
Learning The Political Game Early
- Marin had prior local and party leadership experience before entering parliament, including city council roles and vice-chair positions.
- Those early political lessons prepared her for complex coalition negotiations as prime minister.
