I am not in favour of quotas. Just put the best person into the

The words of Angela Ahrendts—“I am not in favour of quotas. Just put the best person into the job. It is not about gender; it is about experience, leadership and vision.”—echo with the timeless call to merit and integrity. Spoken by a woman who rose to lead some of the world’s most admired companies, these words come not from theory but from the crucible of lived experience. She reminds us that true leadership is not born of numbers or token gestures, but of the qualities that inspire trust, command respect, and bring transformation. Her vision calls for a society where excellence, not labels, is the true measure of worth.

To reject quotas is not to deny the struggles of inequality, but to affirm that justice lies not in filling seats with symbols, but in raising up those whose experience and vision fit the task. Ahrendts urges us to see beyond the surface—beyond gender, beyond appearances—and to look deeply at the substance of a person’s character and deeds. For no company, no nation, no household can be made strong by mere form; it must be led by those whose wisdom has been tested, whose vision pierces the fog of uncertainty, whose courage bears the weight of responsibility.

Her words find resonance in history. Consider Queen Elizabeth I of England, who in an age hostile to women’s rule, governed with unmatched cunning, resilience, and foresight. She was not chosen by quota, nor did she demand recognition because of her gender. Instead, she proved her worth through decisive leadership, steering her nation through storms of war and faith. By her reign, she showed that true authority is not in being a woman or a man, but in embodying leadership and vision that transcend such boundaries.

Likewise, in modern times, leaders who shaped history—be it Nelson Mandela in South Africa, or Abraham Lincoln in America—were not chosen to fill a quota, but because their character, forged in hardship, prepared them to guide their people through crises. Their examples reveal the truth of Ahrendts’s teaching: that to elevate the unqualified for appearance’s sake is to weaken the cause of equality itself, while to uplift the truly capable, regardless of gender, race, or background, is to strengthen all.

Yet, her words carry also a challenge. If we are to seek “the best person for the job,” then society must labor to ensure that all have the chance to develop the qualities of experience and vision. Too often, doors are closed to the gifted before they are tested, opportunities denied before talents are proven. Thus, while Ahrendts rejects quotas, her philosophy also demands fairness in preparation: that education, mentorship, and opportunity be given freely, so that the best can indeed rise from every corner of humanity.

The lesson is therefore twofold. First, do not judge by surface, but by substance. Demand of your leaders not mere symbols, but deeds. Look not at their title or their gender, but at their record, their wisdom, their leadership. Second, do not allow prejudice to choke the growth of those who might one day lead. Create pathways for all to gain the experience and vision they need, that when the time comes, the best may rise unhindered by injustice.

So, O seeker, take Angela Ahrendts’s words into your heart. Do not ask who fits a number or a quota—ask who carries the fire of leadership, the depth of experience, the reach of vision. And in your own life, strive to become such a person yourself: not waiting for a place to be made, but forging yourself into one whose worth is undeniable, whose example shines so brightly that no prejudice can dim it. For in the end, the world is led not by quotas, but by souls who dare to lead with truth, courage, and vision.