As a part of POP Climate Leadership Conversations, the POP Movement spoke to Ms. Ms. Ekaterina Zagladina, President of the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates, about peace and leadership on May 12, 2021. Moderated by POP Ocean Mentor Ana Hanhausen, this   dialogue took place between Ms. Ekaterina and youth leaders from different countries including Ms. Midori Kawano from Japan, Paola Ruiz from Mexico, and Vanessa Hernández from Mexico.

When asked about the meaning of leadership, Ms. Ekaterina spoke about the importance of doing things from the heart and following one’s internal conviction. Leadership aims to solve an issue and we must use our different talents to do so as we lead. Ms. Ekaterina also spoke about how we do not have to be leaders on the same topic forever. As our personality develops and we acquire new knowledge, we may lead in new directions as well.

Vanessa Hernández, POP youth mentor, asked about making personal peace a part of our lifestyle. To this, Ms. Ekaterina said that we need to find a way to constructively resolve issues; this is the connection between the internal and external world where peace is built through dialogue.

Ms. Midori asked about the role of peace in education. To this, Ms. Ekaterina responded that it’s important to share the basic knowledge and characteristics of other people who are leaders in order for everybody to understand that it’s not so difficult to become a leader and that it does not require years of preparation.

When Paola Ruiz asked about becoming ambassadors of peace, Ms. Ekaterina responded that we may become one through the way we lead which must come from the heart.

About the guest:

Ms Ekaterina Zagladina has worked as the President of the Permanent Secretariat of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates since 2006, when she was nominated to serve in the role by former USSR President, Nobel Peace Laureate, and founder of the World Summit, Mikhail Gorbachev. Since then, the Summit has grown substantially at an international level in every dimension. A practicing attorney, Ms. Zagladina has served in big corporations like Ernst & Young, and Volkswagen Financial Services of Russia in the sphere of law and compliance. She holds degrees in International Law, and Linguistics and Interpreting, both from Moscow State University. Ms. Zagladina is a member of the Moscow Region Bar Association, which is attached to the Ministry of Justice of Russia. As President of the Permanent Secretariat, her main objectives are to assist Nobel Peace Laureates and other peacemakers spread their messages of peace and to inspire other citizens, organizations and governments to achieve peace through dialogue and mutual understanding. She believes deeply in peacemaking and the mission of the World Summit of Nobel Peace Laureates. Ms. Zagladina lives in Paris and speaks four languages, including Russian, English, Italian, and Spanish.

Watch the conversation