Who Are You Without the Title? Leadership, Identity, and Clarity with Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir
In this episode, Chisom sits with Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, former Mayor of Reykjavík and Minister of the Interior, to reflect on a leadership journey shaped by courage, integrity, and reinvention. She shares insights on navigating male-dominated systems, building spaces for women leaders, and knowing when to step away with clarity. The conversation highlights leadership as an evolving practice rooted in trust, purpose, and self-awareness.
With Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir
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Show Notes
In this episode of Overnight Wisdom, Chisom Udeze sits down with Hanna Birna Kristjánsdóttir, the former Mayor of Reykjavík, Iceland’s former Minister of the Interior, Chair of Women Political Leaders, and the founder and Chair of the Reykjavík Global Forum — to reflect on a leadership journey that was never planned, but deeply purposeful.
With honesty, humor, and hard-won insight, Hanna speaks about what it means to lead with integrity in a world that wasn’t designed for women. She traces her path from a shy, bookish girl with no public speaking experience to one of Iceland’s most recognized political leaders and global conveners of women in power.
Together, they explore:
- Why Hanna never intended to enter politics and how saying yes changed her life
- The challenges of early leadership shaped by male templates
- Why women need spaces to breathe, lead, fail, and rise without performance
- How she built the Reykjavík Global Forum and why gathering 500+ women leaders each year matters
- The moment she resigned as Minister, and what that taught her about clarity, power, and reinvention
- Her thoughts on imposter syndrome, identity clarity, and why some leaders should know when to leave
- What respect actually means and why she refuses to platform hate, even under the guise of “different views”
This episode is a masterclass on evolving as a leader without losing yourself, and why leadership isn’t about titles — it’s about trust, courage, and clarity.
Whether you’re a seasoned leader or just beginning your journey, Hanna’s story offers a reminder that we’re allowed to change, and sometimes the bravest thing a leader can do is walk away with clarity and integrity — and begin again.