What Would Dieter Rams Do?

The Leadership Delusion: Why We Need a New Model

Have we lost the thread on what it means to lead with integrity, humanity, and vision? Today’s leaders are often measured by stock prices and quarterly growth—but is that corporate governance or an illusion of success?

The prevailing model of leadership is frequently (not always) transactional, driven by bottom lines, shareholder returns, and an insatiable hunger for scale. The result? A society that prizes short-term gains over long-term impact, financial metrics over cultural currency, and efficiency over empathy. What happens when leadership is more than a numbers game? What if its true measure was the lives it transformed, the ideas it nurtured, and the culture it shaped?

The Illusion of Leadership

Corporate executives are often lauded for momentary triumphs, only to be discarded when stock values plummet. Some mistake wealth accumulation for wisdom and charisma for competence. Consider Adam Neumann of WeWork, whose vision built a $47 billion mirage—only to collapse under the weight of self-interest. Contrast that with Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard, who redefined corporate responsibility by placing environmental impact above profit, proving that leadership isn’t about maximizing revenue but fostering sustainable change.

Creativity: The Undervalued Leadership Asset

True leadership isn’t just about making decisions; it’s about creating possibilities. Enter the creative class—designers, artists, and storytellers—who challenge conventions and reimagine the future. Take Virgil Abloh, who disrupted both fashion and cultural norms by blending streetwear with high fashion, proving that leadership isn’t confined to boardrooms. Creative minds forge connections, shape identities, and build movements—qualities absent from leadership as we know it today.

Product Design as Leadership

Great product designers understand what many miss: leadership is about serving people. Consider Dieter Rams, whose minimalist ethos wasn’t just about aesthetics but central to making technology more human. In contrast, today’s obsession with hyper-consumption fuels disposable products and fleeting relevance. Should leaders be nourishing longevity, purpose, and utility?

The Liberal Arts: The Missing Ingredient in Leadership

We have reduced leadership to operational efficiency, financial rigor, and organizational behavior—all necessary, but each insufficient. The liberal arts provide a missing link. History, philosophy, literature—these disciplines cultivate empathy, cultural intelligence, and the ability to see beyond immediate constraints.

Look to James Baldwin, a literary giant who dissected society’s moral failures with unflinching clarity. His words remain a guiding force because they engage with the deepest layers of human experience. That’s what leadership should do—connect, challenge, and inspire.

A New Leadership Paradigm

If we want better leaders, we must redefine what leadership means. Nature offers a model: ecosystems thrive not through dominance but through balance, diversity, and adaptability. Might this apply to corporate leadership?

Instead of rewarding extractive leadership—one that depletes human and cultural resources—can we applaud and cultivate leaders who build resilient, creative, and intellectually rich organizations? Will the broad majority truly understand that the most valuable currency isn’t capital—it’s connection?

So, are we ready to abandon outdated leadership models and embrace a more human, dynamic, and intellectually grounded approach? Or will we continue to mistake power for purpose, profit for progress, and charisma for competence?

The choice isn’t theoretical—it’s existential.