Think Tank event: How to navigate leadership in a world of change
Workshop #5: How to navigate leadership in a world of change
Last week, we welcomed the CBS Leadership ThinkTank back to Copenhagen Business School. We continued discussions on how to navigate leadership in a world of change. Two keynotes were invited to inspire our discussions.
Professor Poul F. Kjaer talked about leadership in the context of geopolitical tensions, addressing three key questions:
- What world are we entering
- What are the implications for business
- What does it mean for leadership
Poul’s perspectives were food for thought. Some disturbing, some more actionable advice. He discussed, what leadership is needed as we are entering the era of fragmented globalization - a world with no centre characterised by globally operating but closed structures centred on China, the EU and the United States. A world in which trust is no longer the cornerstone of regulation and cooperation – not even of institutions. A world in which companies are forced to take sides, to the extent that a new C-suite role is emerging: The CGO – Chief Geopolitical Officer.
Poul Fritz Kjær discussed how leaders can adapt by regionalizing operations and aligning with partners who share similar values. Within this context, he introduced the concept of 'Patriotic Leadership'. While the term initially met some hesitation, there was broad agreement with the principles it represents. In Kjær’s framing, Patriotic Leadership is not about nationalism but about owning responsibility for the societal values and institutional frameworks leaders uphold through their decisions. It’s a call for leaders to be grounded— ethically and strategically—in the long-term well-being of their communities, organizations, and democratic infrastructures.
Professor Laura Empson presented her research on Collective Leadership in elite professional organizations, and in the follow up discussion the Think Tank explored how these insights can help leaders address the challenges of leading when the future feels unpredictable.
Impactful leadership in professional organizations is rarely about a single individual. Instead, it emerges from collective interactions among peers who possess a variety of expertise, autonomy, and strong professional identities.
The ThinkTank discussed how in volatile, unpredictable environments, this collective approach can become more critical because
- it enables rapid, decentralized decision-making
- it draws on diverse perspectives and specialized knowledge
- it creates shared responsibility for navigating ambiguity
Empson’s research highlights how leading through mutual influence rather than through command-and-control can inspire leadership in uncertain contexts where formal plans may quickly become obsolete, because it allows different members of the organization to step forward at different times, depending on the nature of the challenge.
It was a great pleasure to meet again to build on perspectives on leadership from both academia and practice!