23-07-2025
Enhancing Your Leadership With Continuous Learning
By Kendra MacDonald, CEO of Canada's Ocean Supercluster.
When I started my first degree fresh out of high school, I was flooded with advice about what to study and what career path to follow. The most significant piece of guidance was from one of my professors, and it has always stuck with me: Make sure you have 25 years of experience—not one year of experience 25 times.
In the beginning, I didn't consciously plan my learning. I was absorbing everything at once—technical knowledge, communication skills, team dynamics. But what I learned is that while being technically competent is essential, it's the soft skills you don't tend to focus on in school—how you communicate, collaborate and motivate others—that are often more critical to success.
The discipline of continuous learning is as valuable as any official designation. It can lead you to seek growth not just in new skills but also in new contexts. It led me to challenge myself to work and lead in different countries and cultures, and those experiences taught me how to listen better, adapt faster and lead more inclusively.
Over time, I had to become more intentional about what came next. Learning was no longer scheduled in semesters—it had to be self-driven. That shift led to several key lessons that I believe can help anyone amplify their leadership abilities.
1. Learning has never been more accessible.
Technology has democratized access to knowledge. We now have access to university-level courses, thought leaders and industry experts at our fingertips. If you're like me, the challenge is no longer access—it's focus. Narrow your topics, choose credible sources and set a time limit so you don't get lost in the content. More importantly, push yourself to consider how new concepts apply to your world. In my experience, that reflection can help you maximize impact.
2. Learning must be prioritized.
Many of us are now familiar with the analogy of 'big rocks' in a jar—you have to place the most important ones into the jar first, or they won't fit. Learning is one of those big rocks. It's easy to deprioritize learning as we get comfortable and busier, both professionally and personally. But when we stop, we start coasting. And that's not where innovation—or leadership—lives.
Early in my career, a supervisor left their role because they didn't want to learn a new system. I never forgot that. I didn't want to become someone resistant to change simply because it was unfamiliar.
3. Learning doesn't have to be formal.
Much of your most valuable learning can happen outside of a classroom. Leadership, motivation, negotiation, conflict resolution, resilience—these lessons often come from experience, reflection and, yes, a few hard-earned mistakes.
In my own case, I learned what energizes me and what doesn't, where I'm willing to compromise, and where I draw the line. I have had the opportunity to work with leaders around the world, and engaging with them and understanding their motivations and approaches has influenced my own leadership style. Two people can deliver the same message, but their delivery style can make the difference between motivating and confusing a team.
4. Learning is a tool for resilience.
Across different roles, geographies and industries, the ability to adapt isn't just about flexibility—it's about mindset. Continuous learning can give you the tools to navigate complexity, uncertainty and even failure with greater confidence.
When faced with unfamiliar challenges—doing something new or leading in a space where you are not the subject matter expert (which happens a lot when you work across sectors)—a learning mindset can reduce the fear factor. That lack of knowledge now becomes an opportunity for growth. Leadership isn't about having all the answers; it about learning to ask better questions and seeking out those who have the relevant knowledge.
5. Learning keeps us humble—and human.
All leaders should eventually transition from being learners to being mentors. That's an important shift, but don't stop learning. The pace of change—especially in innovation, sustainability and technology—is accelerating. When you're surrounded by brilliant people from diverse backgrounds, disciplines and generations, sometimes the best thing you can do is stay quiet and listen.
Recently, I returned to university—this time as a mature student. It was humbling and energizing. I wasn't studying for a promotion or certification—I was learning for the sake of learning. It gave me a new appreciation for my parents, who also returned to school later in life (although not as late as me), and it reminded me that curiosity doesn't have an expiration date.
The Leadership Imperative
In times of uncertainty, it can be tempting to dig in, maintain the status quo and ride things out. But I've found that learning—even learning something small—can give you a sense of momentum and agency. It can turn anxiety into action.
One of the biggest barriers to innovation is often leadership itself. When leaders resist learning, they signal to their teams that maintaining the status quo is acceptable. That can stifle creativity, progress and growth. On the other hand, when leaders model curiosity, openness and the courage to stretch, their teams are likely to follow.
We are living in a time where new technologies, new mindsets and new ways of working are redefining entire industries. So continue to evolve and pivot throughout your career, and encourage others to do the same!
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