What Makes a Great Leader?

 

What Makes a Great Leader?

Leadership can truly take many forms in a school filled with talent and ambition, from the formal positions of teachers, to everyday moments of initiative that almost everyone has opportunities to take. I’ve always been intrigued by the various types of leadership that there are - and to explore what specifically student leadership truly means in BSM, I’ve conducted an interview with three individuals who embody it in different ways: Joelle Roth, Nina San Pedro, and Aaron Chua. Each of them brings a unique and inspiring perspective, shaped by their various experiences, responsibilities, and values. Their insights are really more than just advice; they paint a picture of what leadership truly looks like in action.

Could you please tell me about the roles or projects you've led?

Joelle: As Head Student, I co-led a team of 17 student leaders, and created initiatives aimed at strengthening school spirit, student council engagement, and wellbeing. Caitlin and I organized Spirit & Sports Day, Flourish Festival, ASA Fair, Bonding Day, Spirit Afternoon, and Induction Day while launching initiatives like the community art wall, and many more. We boosted visibility through social media, the Primary Mailbox, led IB Common Room improvements, and prioritised advocacy through WISE Round Tables and International Women’s Day events. 

As President of Child Haus, the Philippines’ first halfway home for children with cancer, I led 30 students during ASA sessions, focusing on direct-impact initiatives. We personally delivered essentials and organised fundraisers like the Fun Run Pancit Canton stall, bake sales, and “On Wednesdays We Wear Purple,” raising significant funds while building community awareness.

Finally, as Co-President of TEDx, I co-led a team of 37. Under the theme “Cascade,” we hosted speakers including Boy Abunda, Michelle Dee, and Antoinette Taus, sparking discussions on success, advocacy, and climate action. The event trended nationally, becoming one of the Philippines’ top 50 hashtags that week.

Nina: I have taken on and led a wide range of projects throughout senior school, beginning with school-based initiatives and expanding into external outreach. Within our BSM community, I spearheaded PathPals, which I conceptualised through Student Council. Designed as a platform for students to express challenges, share advice, and build inter-year friendships, PathPals matches students with similar interests to foster meaningful connections across year groups.

My passion for connecting people and public speaking has also shaped my involvement in BSM’s MUN and debate teams. Over the years, I’ve held various leadership roles, culminating in my current position as president of both clubs. Running our weekly sessions has been especially fulfilling—I still remember how nervous I was, so it’s incredibly rewarding to support others as they grow in confidence and oratory skill. Seeing our teams perform at conferences has been one of the highlights of my school journey.

Driven by my exposure to global issues through MUN, I’ve also pursued other outward-facing forums. I served as a Customer Experience member for TEDxBritishSchoolManila 2025 and helped run a soft-skills training cohort for educators through BLUEPRINT (YOU)TH (BPY). Each experience came with its own set of challenges—recruiting volunteers, meeting tight deadlines, managing unresponsive speakers—but they were all character-building.

Aaron: Sure! I recently co-founded and led Youth for Indigenous People’s Empowerment through Education (YIPEE for short). We collaborate with indigenous artisans to showcase and market their products including woven clothing in order to boost both employment and educational opportunities. Through providing school supplies and building important infrastructure like a computer lab and sports facilities in remote regions of the Cordillera region, we’ve reached nearly 500 indigenous students. Communicating with school leaders, artisans, and DepEd has definitely been testing at times, but they’ve all built character.

These experiences took me to the United Nations Science, Technology, and Innovation Forum in New York, where I was able to represent the Philippines as the sole youth delegate. Speaking about STEM education in the Philippines in front of more than 65 countries, it was incredibly rewarding to bring my own perspective to the global community. 

I also co-founded Agilas, the Philippines’ first F1 in Schools World Finals team. As the Manufacturing Director, I spearheaded the ideation, development, and manufacturing of our award-winning World Finals car. Ultimately, we won the Best Newcomer Award and were featured by several media outlets including ABS-CBN and GMA, as well as Aramco and the Aston Martin F1 team. 

I’m also the current managing editor of Winston, Head of Academics at BSM, and run the BSM Chemistry and Physics Olympiad Club. 


Joelle, as former Head Student, speaking at the BSM Class of 2025 IB Graduation.

Who or what has influenced your leadership style the most?

Joelle: If I had to name one person, it would be Caitlin, my “partner in crime.” (Not literal crime, just the endless BSM projects we survived together.)

When we first became co-head students, we couldn’t have been more different. Caitlin led with calm analysis, stepping back to reflect before deciding. I was more action-driven, ready to jump in to get things moving. At first, we clashed: I wanted to send the email immediately; she wanted to double-check it. She wanted feedback; I wanted to lock in the plan.

But the more we worked together, the more we learned from each other. I saw the strength in pausing before acting and in ensuring people felt heard. I think Caitlin, in turn, discovered the value of trusting her instincts when quick decisions were needed. We learned to balance empathy with execution, strategy with spontaneity.

Leadership became less about doing things my way and more about learning and improving together.

Whenever I need to make a group decision, I still think of Caitlin’s calm, reflective approach and the way she weighed different views. Remembering those qualities helps me balance clarity with care and turn decisions into opportunities for people to feel seen.

Nina:  My leadership style has been most influenced by my experiences in Model United Nations (MUN) and Student Council—two of my longest-running and most formative activities.

Through MUN, I’ve learned that effective leadership hinges on strong communication. Participating in external conferences alongside talented and driven delegates from other schools pushed me to articulate ideas clearly, confidently, and respectfully. Representing different countries meant I had to deeply understand each nation’s history, cultural context, and political views—even when I didn’t personally agree with them. This taught me to lead with both objectivity and clarity, advocating for perspectives different from my own in a diplomatic, court-like setting.

Meanwhile, Student Council has shaped me into a more empathetic and inclusive leader. Listening to the concerns of peers, many of which weren’t immediately visible, helped me realise the importance of being approachable and responsive. Collaborating with students to develop initiatives addressing these needs strengthened my ability to lead through listening and consensus-building.

Together, these experiences have molded me into a leader who is open-minded, empathetic, and an effective communicator—able to navigate both complex issues and interpersonal dynamics with care and clarity.

Aaron:  Initially, I found authority really difficult; I didn’t really know what to do. What I found though was that you gain confidence and proficiency with experience. So, when it came to organising practicals and setting up sessions, the overall quality improved as well. Through building on this experience with Agilas, the Philippines’ first F1 in Schools team, as well as Winston, I was able to become more confident. 

During preparation for the F1 in Schools World Finals, I took an introductory course in project management from the Project Management Institute. Understanding the specifics of what was needed here really helped me understand what went into the “task-focused” side of leadership. 

However, the core of leadership is uplifting those around you. This is something I started to understand with the excellent leadership sessions that BSM offers its SSLT. I cannot understate the impact that these sessions have had on merging the task-based and outcome-based aspects of leadership with the understanding of your team that one needs to be successful. 


Nina leading the BSM Debate Varsity ASA for Year 7 to Year 13.

What is something you wish you had known about leadership earlier in your journey?

Joelle: When I first stepped into leadership roles, I believed I needed to have all the answers and act quickly, even when I wasn’t fully ready. I worried that if people saw my uncertainty, they might overstep or lose confidence in my ability to lead, so I hid it behind quick decisions and a confident front.

Over time, I’ve come to understand that leadership is much more about asking the right questions and being willing to listen. I learned that it’s okay to be open about not having everything figured out, and that doing so builds trust within a team. Admitting that you don’t know yet but are working on it allows others to step in, share their perspectives, and help find solutions together, leading to outcomes stronger than if you tried to handle everything alone.

Nina: I wish I had known earlier that good leaders don’t lead alone—effective leadership depends on building and relying on a strong support system. It’s a common misconception that leaders need to be the smartest in the room or the best speakers. In reality, the most effective leaders are often better listeners than talkers, guided by empathy and an ability to unite people around a shared vision.

One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is the importance of forming the right team—not based on familiarity or friendships, but on complementary skills and strengths that align with the goal. When there’s trust in a team, it becomes much easier to involve others and delegate tasks meaningfully. I’ve come to realise that confidence and competence alone aren't enough to carry a project to success. As the saying goes, teamwork makes the dream work—and I’ve seen that firsthand.

Aaron: I realised only later on that it’s not about being perfect or 100% able to lead from the get-go, but it’s more about being willing to learn and grow to become a better leader. For a long time, I found it really hard to feel satisfied with my leadership because of this fact. 

After realising that growth was part of the process though, I felt more comfortable with making the mistakes that I needed to learn and become a better leader from. Staying in the same place means that you definitely won’t do anything wrong, but you won’t be doing anything right either! 

What do you think separates a good leader from a great one?

Joelle: A good leader is effective: they get things done, they organise well, and they keep people moving in the right direction. That’s important.

A great leader, on the other hand, leaves people better than they found them. They build trust, not just compliance. They create an environment where people feel seen, valued, and encouraged to grow. They’re not threatened by others’ ideas or successes; they lift others up.

I used to think leadership meant being loud and assertive, the one speaking the most in a meeting, or the one making the final decision. But I’ve learnt that the leaders who left the greatest impact on me were often the ones who led quietly, the ones who listened first, who noticed when someone was struggling, who offered help without being asked, who encouraged people to share their thoughts, and who made space for others to shine.

Great leaders care about why they’re leading, not just about what they’re leading. They understand that leadership is not about control, but about service. It’s not about having followers, it’s about creating more leaders.

Nina:  I believe that great leaders don’t only step into a role to meet a goal, but because they genuinely believe in the purpose behind the project. As one well-known leadership author puts it, “It all begins with why.” That sense of purpose is what sets great leadership apart.

In high school, it can be tempting to pursue leadership roles with the goal of boosting a college application. However, I’ve found that when personal gain is the main motivation, the outcome is often lackluster. True leadership is about supporting a cause greater than yourself.

For me, I chose to lead because I believed in the value of helping others build confidence in public speaking through MUN and debate. I was drawn to initiatives like TEDx, Student Council, and BPY because they offered opportunities to create a more thoughtful, culturally aware, and connected community. When you take on a role because it aligns with your passions and values, that conviction becomes a driving force—and others are naturally inspired to follow.

Aaron: What I’ve found separates a good leader from a great leader is how those they direct feel. A good leader would probably be able to get the task at hand done effectively. 

A great leader would do the same while making those around them feel satisfied and personally responsible for the positive outcome. Really, leadership is about giving others the keys that they need to unlock their potential. 


Aaron representing the Philippines at the United Nations Science, Technology and Innovation Forum.

Do you have any closing statements?

Joelle: To finish off, I would like people to know that everyone has the capacity to lead. You don’t need a title like “Head Student” to be a leader. You can lead in small moments when you stand up for someone, organise a group project, support a friend having a tough day, or help your younger sibling with homework. Leadership is often found in quiet consistency, not just in big gestures.

Secondly, leadership can be learned. It’s not something you have to be born with, and it doesn’t require a certain personality type. Whether you’re introverted or extroverted, detail-oriented or big-picture focused, your way of leading is valid, and it’s needed.

If I could give a few pieces of advice to anyone wanting to grow as a leader, it would be this: focus on people, not power. Listen more than you speak. Care about the impact you leave on others. Be willing to learn, admit when you’re wrong, and adapt when needed.
And remember, you don’t have to be perfect to be a leader. You just have to be willing to step up when it matters, take responsibility, and keep learning along the way.

Nina: I believe that leaders are not born—they’re made through small, consistent steps over time. That’s why you should explore a wide range of interests in high school. Getting involved in different activities not only helps you discover what you love, but also opens the door to unexpected leadership opportunities.

I joined various clubs (including “fantasy world building” and theatre!) before finding the ones that truly resonated with me, and the leadership roles naturally followed as I committed to those communities. It’s okay not to have your future path figured out yet—uncertainty shouldn’t limit your aspirations. For example, I joined MUN through an invitation from friends, learned I enjoyed it, became the social media manager in Year 10 and now, took on the role of President; it’s been a six year journey. While activities like MUN and debate may seem to align with a career in law, I’m actually planning to pursue something very different: medicine! That said, the communication, teamwork, and problem-solving skills I’ve gained will be invaluable in any field.

That’s why I believe it's important to try new things and “do what excites.” You might not realise it at first, but by following your curiosity, you’re already stepping into the path of leadership.

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