Traumatized by being abandoned by her own parents as a child, Kuvira is driven by a fierce desire to protect and guide the citizens
of the Earth Kingdom and persistent on achieving national unity through the
 use of military force. Her willingness to usher in an age of solidarity and collective well-being was further nurtured by Suyin Beifong's progressive ideology, to which she was exposed to from early childhood.

During her time in Zaofu, Kuvira was generally a caring person with a
warm disposition, loyal and obedient to authority, following orders from her former superiors with no protest. However, during her campaign to restore order, her demeanor changed to one of self-righteousness and she demonstrates a capacity to be aggressive to those who defy her or criticize
her motives, having threatened to leave a group of bandits to die on a train rail were they to decline her offer to serve her, as well as having threatened Varrick's life when he refused to continue his spirit vine
 experiments. In addition, she did not hesitate to leave the capital of Yi without providing aid to its impoverished citizens when she was disrespected by the state's governor, whom she berated for failing to
 put his citizens' needs ahead of his own pride. Kuvira is persuasive and capable of convincing state leaders into pledging their allegiance to her, but is also proficient in the use of intimidation if individuals refuse to
comply with her requests.

 

Despite all that, Kuvira has also shown a softer side to her personality during her private time, urging Opal to reconcile with her family and gently easing Bolin's fears as to her intentions. She is welcoming to her allies and fans. She has also shown the
capacity to forgive those who are loyal to her. However, Kuvira is willing to sacrifice anyone to achieve her goals, as demonstrated when she decided to blow up the factory where her fiancé was kept to have a chance at taking out Avatar Korra.