Are Leaders Born or Made? The Role of Early Childhood Development in Shaping Future Leaders - with Priyanka Handa Ram

In this episode of the Shameless Podcast, we welcome Priyanka Handa, a social entrepreneur from Botswana and founder of Learn to Play, who’s on a mission to make early childhood education accessible and transformative across Africa. Priyanka’s journey stems from her own childhood experiences of freedom and exploration, inspiring her belief in the power of play, nurturing care, and community-driven approaches to early learning. Priyanka shares insights into how the formative years from birth to age five are crucial for brain development and long-term societal impact. Through Learn to Play, she’s creating innovative programs that combine playgroups, parental engagement, and teacher training, which not only foster creativity and problem-solving in young children but also address social challenges like poverty and inequality. 🎧 In this episode, you’ll learn: The science of early brain development and its societal importance Priyanka’s vision for creating accessible early childhood programs How childhood freedom and play contribute to lifelong resilience and leadership Cultural relevance in early education and empowering communities Priyanka’s perspective on whether leaders are born or made and the role caregivers play in nurturing leadership traits Tune in to hear Priyanka's inspiring journey and explore how early childhood education can shape the next generation of leaders. Chapters: 00:00:02 - Neuroscience and Early Development00:01:11 - Childhood Freedom and Early Influences00:02:16 - Introduction and Priyanka’s Background00:05:26 - Impact of Early Childhood Development on Society00:08:17 - Founding Learn to Play and Motivation00:10:50 - Training, Licensing, and Community Engagement00:14:12 - Cultural Relevance and Educational Approaches00:15:34 - Personal Childhood Memories and Parenting Reflections00:18:31 - Fostering Leadership and Independence in Children00:19:49 - Parental Influence and Modern Societal Changes00:22:04 - Defining Leadership: Are Leaders Born or Made?00:24:07 - The Role of Caregivers in Early Development00:30:33 - The Importance of Play in Learning and Growth00:34:24 - Transforming Communities Through Early Education00:37:14 - Closing Thoughts and Future Vision Follow Priyanka’s work at Learn to Play:Learn to Play: https://learntoplay.org/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/learntoplaybw https://www.instagram.com/priyankah/ 🔔 Subscribe for more insightful episodes: Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shamelesst4lFacebook: /https://web.facebook.com/ShamelessT4LTikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@shamelesst4l #LeadersByDesign #PriyankaHanda #EarlyChildhoodMatters #ShamelessPodcast #LearnToPlayAfrica #NurturingFutureLeaders #ShamelessT4L