Mind Reels, the Lark’s special daytime documentary film series, returns with four captivating films, inviting you to participate in thoughtful discussion following the screening.

PRIME MINISTER (2025)

Dir: Lindsay Utz ~ Michelle Walshe

Chronicling Jacinda Ardern’s tenure as New Zealand PM, navigating crises while redefining global leadership through her empathetic yet resolute approach. Rt Hon Dame Jacinda Ardern, New Zealand’s 40th Prime Minister, led her nation through unprecedented challenges, implemented bold policies, and became the second leader in history to give birth in office, all while championing an inclusive and empathetic leadership style that changed global expectations of what a leader can be.

GUEST SPEAKER:

MELISSA SAXE BLAUSTEIN
Melissa Saxe Blaustein currently serves as Vice Mayor of Sausalito, where she previously became the youngest mayor in the city’s history. Her public service career began working for then-Mayor Gavin Newsom, and continued with roles in the Obama White House and with Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords. She went on to found and lead an international policy nonprofit representing the tech startup ecosystem across 30 countries and four continents, working at the intersection of government, innovation, and global policy.

Melissa has addressed policymakers and leaders at the World Trade Organization, the European Commission, and the European Parliament, and has been featured in the New York Times, The Economist, and ABC News, among others. She holds a Master’s in Public Affairs from Sciences Po Paris and is pursuing a second Master’s in Homeland Security at the Naval Postgraduate School. An English Channel swimmer, she is currently completing a memoir on ambition and leadership.