Leading with purpose in Cambridge

As one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious academic institutions, the University of Cambridge is a training ground for global leaders, and its alumni can be found in positions of influence across the fields of business, politics, and culture. These include everyone from Oliver Cromwell to King Charles III, Stephen Hawking, Emma Thompson, and Arianna Huffington.

André Lacroix was therefore privileged last week to connect with the talented postgraduate students on the UK’s #1 MBA programme at Cambridge Judge Business School.

Not only was André able to address the students in the room, but part of the session was livestreamed on LinkedIn and YouTube as part of the business school’s Balance Sheet series. This innovative weekly broadcast was created by Conrad Chua, Executive Director of the Cambridge MBA and aims to connect people all over the world, tackling the most critical business issues of our time.

André and Conrad had a lively discussion about his book Leadership with Soul and he enjoyed sharing insights drawn from his time at the head of global brands like Burger King International, 7up and Disneyland Paris.

There were some excellent questions from the students, who were keen to learn how a humanist approach to leadership can energise organisations to drive sustainable growth and value.

André covered a lot of ground, from the importance of leading with a meaningful purpose, to the differences between managing and leading, assessing EQ as well as IQ when hiring talents and how becoming a good leader is a continuous journey…it never stops!

Being a CEO is about dealing with constant and ever-increasing complexity and he passionately believe that it is only by adopting a people-centric approach that leaders will be able to successfully navigate the challenges presented by a rapidly changing business world.

The main message he shared with the students is that legacy is the ultimate measurement of good leadership, and that good leadership is about having a big impact that is enduring.

Thank you to Conrad and the organisers for inviting André to come and share his experiences, and to the MBA students for taking part so enthusiastically.