“Leadership boils down to two things,” reflects Victor Reis, an Amrop Partner in Sweden: “Setting a direction and getting people to move. Wisdom is critical for the first part –  understanding the world, yourself, others, and what actions serve the greater good. Without that horizon, it’s hard to know what direction to move in to improve things for the planet’s inhabitants.

“Purpose is crucial for the second part. Without a clear “why” that resonates emotionally, people won’t accomplish great things. Emotions drive people. That’s why outstanding leadership needs both wisdom and purpose.”

“Wisdom is the prerequisite for purpose,” affirms Jimmy Chen, Managing Partner of Amrop in China.

Battered by years of crises, the fear engendered by wars, inflation and recessions, questions circling around AI, people are no longer looking for simple change managers, says Sandra Schrögenauer, Managing Partner of Amrop in Austria. “The old pillars of certainty are shaking. We need direction, stability, and trust. Wise and purposeful leadership is no longer a nice-to-have for the good times. It is the north star.”

"Global developments are like a polytrauma," says Igor Šulik, Managing Partner of Amrop Slovakia. Jimmy Chen agrees. “We’ve seen the world evolve very quickly from VUCA to BANI, and from BANI to something indescribable. This is why an underlying framework is so vital.”

“There are obvious issues of national security and organizational integrity,” says Victor Reis. “Leaders need to behave responsibly - tempering the hunt for opportunity with the risks of acting without thinking.” The financial meltdown of 2009 exposed such flaws – and selfishness – says Preety Kumar, Managing Partner of Amrop India. Catastrophic events demand a wise antidote: “sustainable thinking, sound judgment, and moral courage. Rising above short‑term problems, focusing not just on yourself, but on the ecosystem.”