Over the past 20 years of my working career, I’ve been amazed at the caliber of young leaders who I’ve had the privilege of working with. While this group of individuals have been exceptionally diverse, they have / had common hallmarks:
- Depth in 1+ craft(s) – eg analytics, strategy, design etc.
- Strategic viewpoints and broader business context;
- Humility grounded in their desire to learn;
- The ability to hone in on the part of the conversation that matters;
- Presence and confidence in communication;
- Kindness balanced with firmness
- Positive energy
Some memorable examples:
- The head of finance who went toe-to-toe with the President daily
- The highly analytical strategist who developed C-Suite strategies
- The design thinking strategist who could marry consumer insight with organizational context to create highly effective journeys
- The analytics leader who’s composure and framing were well beyond their years
- The entrepreneur who runs an enterprise level start up
These young leaders – whether currently in my world or in memory – inspire a higher bar for myself and my teams. Who are the emerging leaders in your world?
The Objective Co 