From Karate to Presidency: Dalia Grybauskaite's Journey of Leadership

Written by Linas Kojala

Dalia Grybauskaitė made history as Lithuania’s first female President, holding office from 2009 to 2019. She chaired the Council of Women World Leaders from 2014 to 2019 and she served as the European Union‘s Commissioner for Financial Programming and Budget, earning the title of Commissioner of the Year in 2005 due to her efforts on EU budget reform. Her journey through various governmental roles and leadership on the international stage has made her a well-respected voice in discussions on global challenges and geopolitical issues. Grybauskaite has been nicknamed "the Iron Lady" and "the steel magnolia" by international media in reference to her no-nonsense style and principled stance against Russia‘s aggressive actions.

***

"Stop Flinching" is the apt title of a book about Dalia Grybauskaite in her native Lithuania, capturing the essence of the leadership style of the country’s two-time President from 2009 to 2019. Known for her principled, direct, and no-nonsense approach, Grybauskaite achieved significant success during her tenure. No wonder she has a black belt in karate.

Grybauskaite's recent engagement at King's College, where she addressed Executive MBA students, was marked by passion, humour, and insight into how to balance high-level decision-making with the human aspects of leadership.

As the event's moderator, I explored themes of critical importance to Lithuania and the global community. Our discussions revolved around the harrowing context of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, the necessity of diplomatic finesse to resolve global issues, and the significance of keeping historical lessons in mind.

During Grybauskaite’s time in office, it was emphatically shown that relatively small nations, like Lithuania, with fewer than 3 million people, can overcome their inherent limitations to project significant strength abroad. Her leadership enabled the protection of the national interests and allowed the country to maintain its integrity on the global stage.

To be effective, smaller countries must make themselves heard internationally, especially when the foundations of the rules-based international order are at stake. The ongoing aggression by Russia against Ukraine represents a clear danger to this order. To counter such threats, Lithuania must leverage all available resources.

The democratic international order allows countries to participate actively in organisations like the European Union, NATO, and the United Nations. Utilising this privilege responsibly is crucial. Lithuania works hard within these organisations to urge its larger and more powerful allies to safeguard freedoms and the rules-based order, as its resilience is not guaranteed.

Such behaviour is existential for Lithuania, which has not forgotten the loss of its independence for fifty years in the interwar period. Any attempt to subvert the international order poses a direct threat not just to nations directly attacked, like Ukraine, but also to all other countries which count on the stability of this system. These nations need to craft a strong and consistent message which recalls the bitter lessons of history, where dominance by larger states led to instability and conflict. The post-Cold War era, marked by economic interdependence and a commitment to shared values, has brought stability and prosperity to Central and Eastern Europe. For example, Lithuania's GDP per capita (PPP) was 25% greater than Russia's in 2022. However, efforts by Russia and others to return to a world governed by the principle of might poses a direct challenge to this stability.

The practical implementation of these principles falls on the shoulders of individual leaders. Aside from the strength and perseverance of Grybauskaite’s foreign policy approach, her experience demonstrates another important lesson in leadership; relationships (especially among world leaders) matter. Grybauskaite's close relationship with former German Chancellor Angela Merkel demonstrates the impact of personal connection on strengthening bilateral relations. This is highlighted by the expanded economic ties and the deployment of a German battle group of several hundred soldiers to Lithuania to show solidarity in 2017. Their relationship also produced a fertile foundation for future growth; for instance, Germany is preparing to permanently deploy a full brigade (around 5,000 troops) to Lithuania, which will significantly strengthen NATO’s deterrence during security tension in the region. A decade or so ago, such developments would have seemed incomprehensible, but the mutual bilateral trust now is firm.

Ultimately, the significance of historical awareness and learning from past leadership challenges cannot be overstated. Those who hope to develop a mindset which ensures success across environments as distinct as the karate studio and the political negotiating table, would do well to listen to the insights from leaders like Grybauskaite. Engaging with her provided invaluable guidance and inspiration for decision-makers across various fields, underscoring the lasting impact of seasoned leaders on current and future generations.

Linas Kojala

Linas Kojala is a Director of a think-tank, the Eastern Europe Studies Centre, in Vilnius, Lithuania and a graduate of the Executive MBA programme at Cambridge Judge Business School. He teaches international relations at Vilnius University and is an Associate at the Negotiation Task Force, Davis Center, Harvard University. In 2020, he was a Baltic Sea Fellow at the Foreign Policy Research Institute (US) and he acts as a regular political commentator on Lithuanian TV and radio, as well as for international outlets. Linas was voted third and fourth most influential Lithuanian public figure in annual polls by a national media outlet DELFI in 2019, 2021 and 2020 respectively.