In my 48 years in public life, I have seen political parties rise and fall. I have seen leaders emerge with great promise and fade away. I have seen governments change, economies transform and technology alter our lives beyond recognition. One lesson has become increasingly clear to me: ultimately, leadership matters.

In today’s world, technology, knowledge, capital and ideas are freely available. But the true differentiator for nations is leadership — one with vision, integrity, credibility and the ability to execute.