The President’s Office has held the second session of the "Executive Development Program 2025–2027."

The session took place this afternoon at the Maldives National University (MNU) Auditorium and was attended by a large number of participants from across Government ministries and institutions.

The session was delivered by Masood Ali, who spoke on the topic “Influence: The Heartbeat of Leadership.” He explored the essence of true leadership, emphasising that it goes beyond managing talent or assembling teams.

Key areas of his speech included the power of personal influence, building relationships, effective communication, and the ethical, strategic use of influence. The talk also highlighted that the core of effective leadership lies in igniting purpose, cultivating trust, and creating an environment where individuals can thrive.

It further explored how to shift focus towards building a shared vision, nurturing authentic relationships, fostering psychological safety, and deepening mutual understanding, particularly as traditional leadership methods increasingly fall short.

The presentation tied these foundational elements together, showing how they enable leaders to inspire, influence, and elevate team performance through purpose-driven leadership.