What are the characteristics of a good leader? Being assertive and powerful, or empathetic and ethical? Canvas8 spoke with Danielle Harlan, CEO of the Center for Advancing Leadership and Human Potential and author ofThe New Alpha, to learn what effective leadership looks like in 2017 and beyond.

As Americans prepare to elect a new president, what qualities are they looking for in their future leader? What values do they idealise, and what traits are non-negotiable? Canvas8 sat down with 20 men and women from across the US to find out what they think makes prime presidential material.

How do you define a leader? How does listening to a friend differ to listening to someone you look up to? For neuroscientists, it’s physical. When a leader-follower relationship is successfully established, the two parties actually mirror each other’s brainwaves.

Which skills do parents encourage their kids to prioritise? Maths? Science? Common sense? Actually, new research conducted by Pew suggests that – in America, at least – parents believe ‘soft skills’ like communication and teamwork are the most important.