Part One: The changing climate of leadership: Why courage, clarity and purpose matter more than ever

“Management is doing things right;
leadership is doing the right things.”
— Peter Drucker

Doing the right things has never felt more urgent — or more complex. As we confront a worsening climate crisis, exponential technological change and growing distrust in institutions, the kind of leadership we need isn’t defined by title or charisma. It’s defined by courage, clarity and a deep commitment to long-term value — not just for shareholders, but for society. That kind of leadership can no longer be defined as unusual — it’s now essential.

Around the world, we’re witnessing a rise in short-termism — often fuelled by political polarisation, populist rhetoric and power plays dressed up as strategy. Too many leaders are pursuing near-term advantage at the expense of long-term resilience. The consequences are already evident: Eroded trust, divided societies and a lack of coordinated action on undeniable issues set out in the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) that demand global cooperation.

Against this backdrop, business leaders can — and must — step up. According to GlobeScan’s 2025 report, 71% of Americans believe CEOs should speak out about the importance of addressing climate change, and 67% say CEOs should publicly defend diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) initiatives. This support spans political and generational lines — a clear signal that society increasingly expects business to lead where others are falling short.

There’s a competitive dimension too: The most admired and resilient businesses today are those that are actively engaging — not just through CSR or branding, but through their core purpose. They’re embedding sustainability and social impact into how they govern, operate and grow their businesses — and they’re reaping the rewards in talent attraction, customer loyalty, innovation and long-term performance.

Business leadership today requires more than operational excellence; it demands a steadfast commitment to values that endure beyond election cycles and quarterly earnings. Over the past two decades, I’ve seen that the most successful — the most effective and most admired leaders — are those who align their organisation’s purpose not only with their commercial objectives but also with the needs of the societies they serve and are a critical part of.

In next week’s follow-up, I’ll explore what courageous, purpose-led business leadership actually looks like in practice — from building diverse ‘teams of teams’ to navigating the ethical use of AI. These are the principles I’ll also be unpacking during London Climate Action Week, where I’ll be speaking at a live online session arranged and hosted by my friends at PURE Value 360.

Date: Tuesday 24 June
Time: 9:00am BST
Topic: Climate Action: The Role of Business Leadership
Where: Online, hosted by PURE Value 360
[Link to follow]