Leading with the Land: Inuit Perspectives on Strength, Purpose & Community with Albert Netser

On November 4th, Connected North hosted a special session titled Leading with the Land: Inuit Perspectives on Strength, Purpose & Community with guest speaker Albert Netser. The session was hosted by Mackenzie Demerah, an Inuk woman from Kugluktuk, Nunavut, currently lives in Edmonton, Alberta.

Albert, an Inuk man originally from Coral Harbour, was one of the first two journeyman powerlinemen in Nunavut. Over the years, he has worked extensively in trades education, developing hands-on training programs for Inuit students, and now serves as Co-CEO and Chief People and Culture Officer at Arctic Fresh Group. Throughout his career, Albert has remained dedicated to empowering others and expanding opportunities across the North.

In this special session, Albert explored what leadership means from an Inuit perspective, including how to stay grounded in one’s values when making decisions that affect others, how to overcome challenges, and how strong leadership is rooted in community, humility, and care. The goal of this Premium session was to inspire students to reflect on leadership — what it means to lift others up, stay true to their values, and lead with strength, kindness, and purpose.

Students joined from across Nunavut, including Coral Harbour, Albert’s hometown. One of the key messages he shared was about the importance of investing in one’s personal life. He also spoke about the differences between Western and Inuit leadership, emphasizing that Inuit leadership is built on values of cooperation, respect, and connection.

“A good leader creates a strong team and makes everyone come together.” Albert continued, “Being a leader is all about relationships. Everything is about working well together. In leadership, we all must have a good relationship with one another. Everyone helps in a community.”

Overcoming challenges was another key topic Albert discussed. He shared what keeps him going when times get tough, explaining that if he were to quit, he would be letting down not only himself but also the people he planned to help that day. His message was one of resilience, determination, and the importance of continuing to serve others.

Albert also shared a message of hope: everyone has the potential to be a leader. He emphasized the importance of servant leadership, selflessness, and continuous learning.

“I just want to serve our people so our people become world-class leaders. Nunavut has that potential, and we are very unique,” he explained.

After the presentation, Albert opened the floor for questions and shared additional reflections. He offered advice to students who may be hesitant to leave their community, drawing on his own experience of once believing he would never leave Coral Harbour. Albert spoke about the importance of showing young people the range of jobs and opportunities available to them and how well those roles can support their futures.

“Sometimes you have to leave your home community to go after the job, to go after the career, and you can always come back. There’s so much out there, and it just takes a very short time — two or three years away from home is not very long — and you can go back and work from your hometown,” he advised.

Albert also encouraged students to take time to understand themselves. “You’ve got to learn who you are. When you learn who you are, you’ve got to not only love yourself and grow in yourself, but also go help people with no hidden agenda,” he shared.

He reminded students to rest, care for themselves, and recognize their strengths knowing they have the potential to change the world with their talents and gifts.Sharing examples of great leaders, Albert spoke about servant leadership and the power of one person to make a difference. “One person can change the course of the world, and that might be you,” he affirmed.

He also highlighted the importance of mentorship in developing leadership skills. In closing, Albert left students with words of encouragement: “You are loved. You are special. You are unique. We want to see you succeed.”

Connected North Premium sessions like this give students across the North the chance to connect with inspiring role models and see what’s possible for their futures. When people like Albert Netser share their stories, they model resilience, humility, and a deep connection to culture, land, and community. Through these sessions, students build confidence, find inspiration, and begin to see themselves as the next generation of leaders.