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Chile’s Michelle Bachelet on happiness, success and leadership
President Michelle Bachelet of Chile shared some light moments with the students of an all-girls school in Quezon City, sharing her thoughts on love, leadership and women's empowerment.
During the question and answer portion of the 4th National Women's Summit held in Miriam College on Tuesday, Bachelet, who served as the keynote speaker, shared some wisdom about matters closer to the youth, and discussed more serious topics like free trade, gender equality and women's empowerment.
"Don't try to be a superwoman, because it will only bring frustrations. Instead, seek the help of your partner. Be assertive but also learn the art of dialogue, learn to communicate," Bachelet said when asked by a student for advice about "love and relationships."
Bachelet added with a laugh: "And you should have a sense of humor. It will help you survive."
On leadership
Bachelet said the same advice also applies to being a good leader, especially in government.
"In any field, not only in politics, if you are a leader, you should stop thinking that you are superwoman. You should acknowledge that you need help...Go to the field and talk to people, listen to your advisers, especially on things that are not working well," she said.
Bachelet also called on the Philippine government to institute reforms that would increase the participation of women in politics.
Bachelet noted that based on the record of the United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment of Women (UN Women), the Philippines only had about 26 percent female participation in politics.
Bachelet said that while this figure is better than other countries in Asia, the government could do more to encourage female participation in the political arena, such as by passing legislation that requires at least 40 percent of candidates to be female, just like a law recently approved in Chile.
Bachelet, however, also had a reality check for young women who might wish to enter politics someday.
“For women leaders, paradise doesn’t exist on earth…There are lots of challenges like the gender bias against women. We still have the culture of machismo,” she said.
Bachelet added that with more women in politics, reforms in terms of women and children empowerment can take place, such as the reduction of maternal and child mortality rate and elimination of discrimination on women in various fields of work.
On success and happiness
Bachelet, a physician, was elected as the first female President of Chile in 2006 and re-elected in 2014.
Before this, she served as Chile's health minister in 2000 and defense minister in 2002—the first woman in Latin America to hold this position—following her extensive studies on military strategy, warfare, and continental defense in Chile’s top four military schools.
She also served as the first executive director of UN Women, the United Nations' organization dedicated to equality and women's empowerment.
With all these accomplishments under her belt, Bachelet said being successful is not just about wealth and prestige, but more importantly about being happy and fulfilled.
“For some, success means being wealthy and driving a Jaguar…but you know, success has many meanings, so it is important to find your own meaning of it. What is it that you really love doing? What truly makes you happy?” Bachelet said.
Asked then on what makes her happy, Bachelet said doing “simple things.”
“I love to sing, to dance and to cook. To walk by the beach on sunset…Seeing my children and grandchildren also makes me happy,” she said.
Bachelet added that doing things for other people also offers happiness and a sense of fulfillment.
“Talking to people, working to improve other people’s lives, striving to do the right thing even when it is difficult, that’s also a different kind of happiness,” Bachelet said.
Bachelet is in the country for the week-long 2015 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) activities. — BM, GMA News
