The COVID-19 crisis has revealed a great deal how national leaders cope with rapid change and make decisions with far-reaching consequences at a time of uncertainty. Not only have they struggled with the unpredictability of the pandemic but with the intricacies of intra-national and international politics. This case series examines in depth the diverging approaches taken by the leadership in five countries - China, France, Singapore, Sweden and the US - with the goal of exposing the common missteps and hurdles encountered during the months when the coronavirus crisis first emerged, challenging students (via group work) to reflect on the lessons learned.