Date: 08 Jan 2026
Seini’s Path to Leadership
When I first walked into the Intergenerational Leadership Dialogue in Nuku‘alofa in March 2025, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I carried a mix of ambition and uncertainty, the kind of feeling many young single mothers/ women know well. Deep down, I had always wanted to lead, to be part of shaping change, but I often asked myself: Am I ready? Will I be accepted?
Like many others, I grew up seeing leadership spaces mostly filled by men or elders. I admired them, but I also wondered if there was space for people like me, a young single mother, still finding her footing, still learning who she wanted to become. For many years, I was encouraged by my father, community leaders, and loved ones to participate in Youth Parliaments and such spaces, but I hesitated.
That Dialogue, organised by the Civil Society Forum of Tonga and Balance of Power, changed something in me. Listening to elder leaders share their stories of courage, doubt, and perseverance reminded me that leadership doesn’t begin with confidence; it begins with willingness. It begins when you decide to step forward, even when you’re unsure.
I am a young single mother whose strength was forged through responsibility and resilience. My first real test of leadership came unexpectedly, when I had to take over and manage my late father’s construction business. It was a world where women rarely led, and it demanded every bit of courage I had. There were days I questioned myself, but I kept going. I learned to make tough decisions, to stay calm when things were uncertain, and to find solutions when others saw problems.
That experience taught me that leadership is not about titles, it’s about people. I saw how one decision could affect families, workers, and an entire community. That’s when I realised that I wanted to lead not just in business, but in service, for my people and my country.
Today, with a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice student, I’m continuing that journey through education. I’m learning how fairness, justice, and good governance can build stronger communities. My studies remind me that leadership must be guided by empathy and integrity, values that begin at home, in our families, and in our everyday lives.
In 2025, I was honoured to take part in the Women’s Practice Parliament, supported by the Legislative Assembly of Tonga, UNDP through the Pacific Parliament Effectiveness Initiative, funded by the New Zealand Government, the Australian Government, the Chinese Embassy and Balance of Power. For the first time, I stood inside Tonga’s Parliament, not as a visitor but as a participant.
I was given the role of Minister of Foreign Affairs and His Majesty’s Armed Forces, and though it was a simulated exercise, the experience felt real. Standing there, delivering a speech, debating ideas, I felt the weight and the honour of what leadership means. I learned that young women do belong in those spaces, that our voices matter, and that courage grows every time we speak up.
Through all of this, I’ve come to believe that leadership doesn’t start in parliaments or offices, it starts in the quiet moments when you choose to take responsibility, even when no one is watching. It starts in our homes, our communities, and in the small acts of courage that prepare us for greater roles.
To the women and young mothers of Tonga who dream of stepping into leadership or politics, I want to say this: you are capable, and your experiences matter. The challenges you face are not barriers; they are lessons that shape you into the leader you’re meant to become.
Leadership is not about perfection. It’s about purpose. It’s about service. And it’s about standing up, even when you feel small, knowing that each step forward opens the way for others to follow.
My journey, from managing my father’s construction business to studying Criminal Justice and standing in the Practice Parliament has shown me that courage and humility can go hand in hand. We may not have all the answers, but when we lead with heart, we create change that lasts.
To every Pacific woman who dreams of serving, your time is now. Take that step. Speak your truth. And believe that your story, no matter how ordinary it may seem, can inspire a nation.