If you have ever felt the pressure to hold everything together, to smile through the struggle or to lead even when your tank is empty, you needed to hear what Tiwi Islands man and 2023 NT Young Australian of the Year Jahdai Vigona shared at the recent Hatchery First Nations NT Unlimited Leadership Summit. His powerful session cut through the noise and forced many of us to rethink what real leadership looks like.

He began with a simple but thought-provoking proposition: it only takes 90 seconds for the body to process an emotion. After that, it is the mind that chooses to hold on. He explained how learning to observe emotions without judgement can help us heal and grow.

"When we feel triggered, after that first 90 seconds we're choosing to keep feeling it. We hold on to that story, and that's what stops us from learning the lesson and healing," he said.

That message of awareness and choice set the tone for his entire talk.

His honesty grounded the room. He was not there to preach perfection. He was reminding us that leadership begins with being real.

"Too often we get caught up in red tape, politics or imposter syndrome... just being yourself is always enough."

At one point, he showed two photos. In one, he was smiling proudly, holding his Young Australian of the Year award. In the other, the exact same photo, he explained that behind the smile he was struggling to pay bills, exhausted and barely keeping his head above water.

"On the surface, I looked like I had it all together," he said.

"But I was treading water. People project expectations onto you to have it all figured out. But that version never really existed.

"You can be proud and still be struggling. You can be a leader and still be learning how to lead yourself. That's what it means to lead with vulnerability."

Vigona has become a strong advocate for mental health and self-awareness, particularly among Aboriginal men. He spoke about the importance of role models and how honesty can save lives.

"People can't be what they can't see," he said. "When our young men see strong, kind and real role models, they start to believe that leadership and healing can look like them too."

He shared a story about a man who joined one of his early sessions while feeling suicidal after losing his sister. Through connection and conversation, that man found purpose again.

"Sometimes a simple thing can save a life," Vigona said. "Just having a space where men can be heard is powerful."

His message was never about programs or frameworks. It was about presence.

"Being real will always speak louder than any framework," he said. "When we show up as humans, not experts, that's where trust begins. The moment you allow yourself to be seen, that's when others feel safe to do the same. Authenticity is real leadership."

He reflected on how his leadership style has evolved over time.

"When I was younger, I thought being a leader meant being the loudest in the room," he smiled. "Now I've learned to lead from the back, like our old people used to do. They'd walk behind the group, letting the young ones set the pace."

Vigona also spoke about balance and the importance of looking after his physical, mental and spiritual wellbeing. "When I'm doing the right things for myself," he said, "eating right, sleeping right, spending time with family, that's when I know I'm showing up in the best way I can."

His words were a reminder that leadership is not about perfection or image. It is about being real, being human and being connected.

As the session closed, he left us with a powerful question: "Where in your life do you need to let yourself be seen?"

It was the kind of moment that stays with you. A reminder that courage does not always roar. Sometimes, it simply looks like showing up; one percent better each day.