During our North American Study Tour, I expected to learn about agriculture in the West. What I didn’t expect was how clearly the region would surface lessons about leadership in complex systems.

What stood out is that leadership in this place is less about control and more about good stewardship.

Whether protecting scarce farmland through the Agricultural Land Reserve or navigating water use challenges, leaders are making decisions not just for today, but for generations. It’s a reminder that leadership is often about deciding what must be protected, even at a cost.

Kelowna is full of competing truths – growth and preservation, tourism and sustainability, and innovation and adoption barriers.  Here, leadership becomes an exercise in translation, balancing, and incremental progress.

That kind of leadership requires proximity to reality and the right voices at the table. The most effective voices we heard were those with lived experience – able to bridge policy and practice, urban and rural perspectives.

We heard from West Kelowna Councillor Rick De Jong, who shared his experience as an often lone agricultural voice at the council table. His advocacy ensures decisions reflect both the region’s agricultural potential and the pressures of rapid urban growth. It left me wondering what happens when a voice like that isn’t at the table.

Strong leadership isn’t about simplifying complexity—it’s about navigating it responsibly, consistently and with a clear sense of what truly matters.

In reflecting on the trip, I’ve found myself asking: ‘Are there tables in my community where my voice and experience should be present?’”