Leadership

People ask me all the time what do you want to be known for? My answer is simple. I want people to say 'Shaquille O'Neal was a nice guy…' forget how much money I made, forget how many championships I won, or what type of businessman I am.

Hall of Fame NBA Center & 4-Time NBA Champion

To achieve greatness means to maximise your potential at the highest possible level, and the highest possible rate. I don't really consider myself the best, but the fact that people consider me the best I take as a great honour and as testament to the hard work and what I was able to achieve.

Hall of Fame NBA Center & 4-Time NBA Champion

For me, the key has been to become more and more humble over time in a way that I realise that I shouldn't be interfering with the magic and beauty of what an entrepreneur can do.

Prominent venture capitalist and early Tesla investor at Draper Fisher Jurvetson

Visionary leaders that build great companies have some personality attributes they share. They are self-confident enough to be humble. They have a reservoir, a personal drive, passion, belief in their capabilities, and they're willing to admit what they don't do well and to seek those people to join their team from the very beginning.

Prominent venture capitalist and early Tesla investor at Draper Fisher Jurvetson

If I could change only one thing about public understanding of the meritocratic structures in our world, it would be to give more recognition to our hidden heroes.

The story is told sincerely, but the cumulative effect is misleading – a subconsciously organised trick.

The most corrupting idea about power is that it gives you a set of techniques to enable you to get more of what you want, no questions asked. If we think about power in that way, our soul will get eroded.

Power requires oppression. In order to be powerful, you have to stand upon something. Strength comes from within. Strength is replacing power. People are sick of power, especially the young.

Turkish journalist, author, and political commentator known for critical writings on democracy

I had to remain in war mode. I had to continue confronting my captors, not accept what was happening to me. The relationship I had with my captors was based on suspicion.

Former Colombian Presidential Candidate & Hostage Rescue Survivor

My mindset changed from thinking that tomorrow I may be freed, to realising that unless I did something myself, nobody would come and rescue me.

Former Colombian Presidential Candidate & Hostage Rescue Survivor

I think space made me less black and white, less uptight. I don't get as excited about things as easily. I feel like I take positions on things less easily.

NASA Astronaut & International Space Station Commander

Your only duty is to take the rope and try to make a better one. Your only duty is to make the best rope you can for your children, for the next generation.

Renowned French Industrial Designer & Architect Known for Innovative Product Design

I learned you always have to use the language of the people you want to convince. If you speak to heads of states and corporations about the costs, that will be incurred to protect the environment, they will never invite you again. If you come and speak their language about job-creation and profit, they will welcome you with open arms.

Swiss Adventurer & Pilot of Solar-Powered Aircraft Solar Impulse

We must not only use the emotional part of exploration, but also the state of mind of exploration which encourages us to get out of our bad habits, beliefs, everything we know, our comfort zone, and even our way of thinking. The mindset of exploration encourages us to find new solutions.

Swiss Adventurer & Pilot of Solar-Powered Aircraft Solar Impulse

Emotional intelligence however is a skill that is learned and learnable. We learn it in life- and we can be trained in it. It's not enough to have someone come and talk to your team about why it's important however, it's something that needs practice, something that you have to work at.

Psychologist who popularized the concept of emotional intelligence

When Google (a very high IQ place!) looked into their highest performing teams, they found the hallmark of those teams was a sense of psychological and emotional safety.

Psychologist who popularized the concept of emotional intelligence