Leadership Under Pressure in Academia
This review examines a drama series – The Chair (Netflix, 2021), which provides a comedic, and concerning look at governance, resilience, and institutional change through the lens of academia. Starring Sandra Oh as Dr. Ji-Yoon Kim, the first woman to chair the English department at the fictional Pembroke University, the series offers valuable insights into the complexities of leadership in established institutions.
Navigating Institutional Complexity
Dr. Kim steps into her new role with optimism but quickly encounters the realities of leadership under pressure. Student enrolments are declining, faculty resist change, and a public controversy threatens the department’s stability. At the same time, she juggles the personal challenge of raising her adopted daughter while striving to make her mark in a space not designed for leaders like her. The series highlights the tensions between innovation and tradition, authority and influence, and personal and professional obligations. These are the paradoxes all directors and chairs face constantly.
Leadership Wisdom in Future-Oriented Sensemaking
The show’s portrayal of institutional inertia speaks to the challenge of leading change in environments resistant to transformation. Dr. Kim’s struggle to modernise her department mirrors the difficulties many leaders face when confronting entrenched structures. She must balance legacy systems with the need for innovation, often finding that influence is built on relationships rather than authority alone.
Leadership Wisdom in Resilience and Relationships
Dr. Kim’s journey also highlights the ethical dilemmas and decision-making pressures of leadership. She is caught between conflicting priorities—students, faculty, and university leadership—all while striving to uphold her values. The series underscores the necessity of emotional intelligence, adaptability, and courage in decision-making, showing how effective leadership is often defined by resilience and relational skills.
The Human Cost of Leadership
One of the most poignant themes in The Chair is the personal toll leadership can take. Dr. Kim’s experience reflects the weight of expectation placed on leaders from under-represented backgrounds and the emotional labour required to sustain change. Balancing professional duties with personal wellbeing is a challenge familiar to many leaders, reinforcing the importance of self-care and support networks for directors and chairs.
Attention Regulation: A Cornerstone of Effective Leadership
Dr. Kim’s leadership journey highlights the mental load of constant crisis management. The competing demands on her attention—from faculty disputes to student protests—mirror the cognitive overload that many leaders experience. The ability to regulate attention, prioritise effectively, and remain composed under pressure is crucial for sustainable leadership in unpredictable environments, highlighting the value of sustained development of mindfulness and other mind skills.
Mind Focus
The Chair offers a case study for those looking to reflect on or refine their leadership approach.
At Our Stable Mind, we offer resources on decision fitness, resilience, and governance in challenging environments. If you’re interested in exploring how to strengthen your leadership capabilities, reach out for tailored coaching and insights.
