{
  "id": 5475711,
  "title": "Rotary leader uses power of storytelling",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/rotary-leader-uses-power-of-storytelling",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-04T03:02:02.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Korea Times",
    "slug": "the-korea-times-koreatimes",
    "url": "https://www.koreatimes.co.kr/lifestyle/people-events/20260904/rotary-leader-uses-power-of-storytelling"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Leading a historic organization like Rotary, particularly during the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic, necessitates certain qualities. For Jennifer Jones, a Canadian originally from Windsor and now Rotary International's first female president, the key ingredients were dedication and the ability to tell compelling stories. Jones believed that her genuine and relatable communication style, coupled with her commitment to providing empathetic leadership, would guide her through difficult times.\n\nIn an interview with The Korea Times at the Grand Hyatt hotel in Seoul, Jones emphasized the significance of her vocational strength - communication - in helping Rotary emerge from the COVID era. She recognized that it was crucial to ensure that individuals felt connected and supported, even when physically isolated. Jones stressed the importance of fostering a sense of global unity while still working towards common goals and assisting one another.\n\nDuring the pandemic, Rotary leveraged the existing infrastructure it had established to combat polio, one of its most successful programs. By utilizing this infrastructure, Rotary was able to assist people in accessing essential treatments, vaccines, and materials such as masks in over 70 countries. Jones reflected on Rotary's purpose during challenging periods, adding that the organization was designed to rise to such occasions.",
  "summary": "What is required to lead a 117-year-old institution like Rotary — especially during the COVID-19 pandemic era? For Jennifer Jones, a Canadian from Windsor, dedication and \"the power of storytelling\" were essential to the job. As Rotary International's first female president, she knew her authentic and real communication style and desire to provide \"vulnerable\" leadership would see her through. \"I…",
  "key_points": [
    "Jennifer Jones, Rotary's first female president, led during COVID-19 challenges",
    "Emphasized communication skills as key to guiding Rotary through difficulties",
    "Utilized existing polio infrastructure to provide essential treatments globally"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Jones's leadership approach, centered on empathetic communication and storytelling, helped Rotary navigate the pandemic and reaffirm its global unity and purpose.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "The Korea Times",
        "title": "Rotary leader uses power of storytelling",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/04/rotary-leader-uses-power-of-storytelling-5480811",
        "published": "2026-09-04T03:32:03.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}