Facing Fear and Leading with Courage

These were the words of Franklin Delano Roosevelt (FDR) on the occasion of his inaugural presidential address in 1933. At the time, the world was gripped by fear. The United States of America was in the throes of the Great Depression, and soon after, World War II would reshape the global order.

I recently finished reading FDR's biography Franklin D. Roosevelt: A Political Life by Robert Dallek which gave me a deeper understanding of the mind of this extraordinary leader. Although often portrayed as a president who came from privilege, he was far more than that. He not only overcame a paralytic illness but went on to lead the country through several crises during his tenure in office as America's longest-serving president and the only one to be elected to four Presidential terms. What fascinates me about FDR isn’t just his response to crises but how he leveraged unity and resilience to carve a legacy of hope and renewal. FDR understood that true leadership is about consensus-building and navigating uncertainty—truths that resonate with me as I look at the leadership landscape today. 

Vision, Unity, and Diplomacy

Looking back, I spent a few of my formative years in a neighborhood that had FDR’s name often floating in my periphery. When my family moved to New York City in 1993, we lived between 1st Avenue and FDR Drive in Manhattan, with Roosevelt Island, named after the 32nd President, visible from our living room window.

At the time, I did not fully grasp the weight of his legacy, but it would go on to impact my life in more ways than I could imagine. One of my first major speaking engagements was when I had the privilege of addressing an audience during a commemoration of the Day of the African Child in the United Nations (UN) General Assembly Hall. On that day, in the institution whose name was coined by Roosevelt—its primary architect—I began to truly appreciate his vision of global unity and diplomacy. On that stage, I told myself I would one day work for the UN, and that aspiration came to fruition a decade later.

Leadership in Times of Crisis

FDR's leadership during the Great Depression is characterized by consensus, resilience, and a refusal to yield to fear; qualities that are in short supply but sorely needed in an increasingly polarised world. In many ways, today's world mirrors the crises of Roosevelt's time in that we are faced with global uncertainty as a result of conflict, climate change, famines, and political instability across different regions and countries.

As the 79th UN General Assembly (UNGA) convened last month, I reflected on FDR's far-reaching impact—not just on the U.S. but globally. The UNGA addresses challenges that require multilateral cooperation, fostering consensus and collaboration among nations to solve pressing global challenges in a forum where all member states have equal representation. 

Roosevelt's legacy, from creating social safety nets to fostering international peace, reminds us that leadership is about service, unity, and leaving the world better than we found it. Whether it’s building businesses or leading nations, Roosevelt’s approach offers timeless lessons in that true leaders must unite people, even when divisions seem insurmountable.

Returning Home and Shaping the Future

In October 2014, I packed up my belongings once more and left New York City—and the United Nations—following a 10-year career that saw me go from working in peacekeeping in Liberia with a short stint in Sierra Leone as a UN Volunteer, to the UN Information Centre in South Africa, and eventually culminated in me serving my last three years with the organization at headquarters.

I recall having several conversations then with people asking me, "Why would you leave a job with the UN, in New York, to return to Africa?" I had spent the better part of two years dreaming of returning home to have a direct impact on the continent and spent a year working on the UN's Africa Renewal Magazine, a publication that covers Africa's economic, social, and political developments and highlights the challenges the continent faces as well as the solutions devised by Africans with the support of the UN and international community. My time at Africa Renewal not only exposed me to the possibilities of an African renaissance but subsequently shaped my career path thereafter.

Instead of letting fear and others’ opinions drown out my inner voice, I took a leap of faith. Over the course of past decade, I have been fortunate to work on strategic investments on behalf of the State, addressing some of Zambia’s biggest challenges in agriculture, energy, manufacturing, mining, telecommunications, and tourism. Work that has ultimately allowed me to fulfill my dream of serving and making a significant impact.

Applying FDR’s Legacy in Our Own Lives

In our spheres of influence—whether we are building businesses, leading teams, contributing to societal change, or making career leaps—we must remember that fear can either paralyze or galvanize us. FDR chose the latter, and in doing so, showed us what is possible when we face fear head-on with courage and resolve.