11 Feb The Heroes We Choose: How Leadership Role Models Shape Our World
Who we choose as our hero matters more than we might think.
As someone who has spent decades studying leadership and organizational culture, I’ve observed a profound truth: the heroes leaders choose fundamentally shape how they lead, and by extension, how they impact the world. The role models we admire don’t just inspire us—they become the blueprint for our actions, decisions, and legacy.
When Heroes Change History
Perhaps no example illustrates this principle more powerfully than Martin Luther King Jr.’s choice of Mahatma Gandhi as his role model. King didn’t stumble upon nonviolent resistance by accident; he deliberately studied Gandhi’s methods and philosophy, adapting them to the American civil rights struggle. This conscious choice of hero had monumental consequences.
Imagine for a moment if King had chosen a different role model—one who advocated violence as the primary means of social change. The entire trajectory of the civil rights movement, and indeed American history, might have been drastically different. Instead of the Civil Rights Act and the Voting Rights Act, we might have witnessed a racial war that tore the nation apart. King’s hero shaped not just his strategy, but the soul of a movement that transformed America.
The McKinley Model: When Yesterday’s Heroes Meet Today’s World
Today, we see another striking example of how presidential heroes influence policy. Donald Trump has repeatedly cited William McKinley as his presidential role model—a choice that reveals much about his worldview and approach to governance.
McKinley, who served from 1897 to 1901, is remembered for two defining characteristics: economic protectionism and territorial expansion. He championed tariffs to shield American industry from foreign competition and was the first president to assert America as a global imperial power, annexing Hawaii and, following the Spanish-American War, claiming Puerto Rico, Guam, and the Philippines.
Trump’s emulation of McKinley’s instincts is evident in his policies. But here lies the critical question: can a 19th-century playbook work in a 21st-century world? McKinley operated in an era when trade was largely national and major powers routinely seized territory. Today’s world is fundamentally different. Global supply chains cross multiple borders, and tariffs are likely to constrain rather than enhance economic growth. In foreign policy, America spent six decades building a world order based on the principle that major powers shouldn’t seize territory by force.
Whether Trump’s McKinley-inspired approach will succeed or fail remains to be seen, but the choice of hero matters enormously. It shapes expectations, justifies policies, and influences how millions of people around the world perceive American leadership.
The Marshall Plan Mindset
Consider a contrasting example: Dwight Eisenhower’s admiration for George C. Marshall. Marshall, the architect of the European recovery program after World War II, believed America’s security depended on engaging with the world, not withdrawing from it. When America faced the temptation of post-war isolationism, Eisenhower, inspired by Marshall’s vision, chose engagement over withdrawal.
This choice of hero influenced Eisenhower to build institutions like NATO and maintain America’s commitment to international cooperation. The result? Six decades without a major world war—a period of relative global stability unprecedented in modern history.
Personal Heroes Shape Personal Leadership
The influence of heroes isn’t limited to world leaders. In my own career, I was privileged to work under Trudy Sopp early in my journey in organizational development. Trudy wasn’t famous, but she was my leadership hero, and her impact on my approach to leadership has been immeasurable.
Trudy was tough and fair, with impossibly high expectations that somehow didn’t feel impossible when you worked for her. She pushed all of us to excel through honest feedback that stung in the moment but made us better. Yet she also celebrated wins generously, gave away credit easily, and genuinely cared about our careers and personal lives.
Her leadership style became my template. When I teach leaders today about the importance of challenging people while supporting them, when I emphasize the power of honest feedback coupled with genuine care, I’m channeling Trudy Sopp. Her heroic leadership shaped not just my career, but how I’ve influenced thousands of leaders through my books and speaking.
The Hero Question for Our Time
This brings us to the essential questions every leader must ask: Who is your leadership hero? How have they influenced the way you make decisions, treat people, and define success? Are you conscious of their impact on your leadership style?
More broadly, we must consider: Who should be our heroes for this moment in history? The challenges we face—from climate change to technological disruption to social inequality—require leadership approaches that may be different from those that worked in previous eras.
Perhaps we need heroes who demonstrate the ability to collaborate across divides, who show us how to balance technological progress with human dignity, who model how to create sustainable prosperity rather than short-term gain. Maybe we need heroes who prove that strength comes not from dominance but from empowerment of others.
The Ripple Effect of Choice
The heroes we choose create ripple effects far beyond our immediate sphere of influence. A CEO who chooses Jack Welch as a hero will lead differently than one who chooses Patagonia’s Yvon Chouinard. A political leader inspired by Nelson Mandela will approach conflict resolution differently than one who emulates more combative figures.
Who we choose as our hero matters—not just for us, but for everyone we lead, influence, and serve. Our heroes become part of our legacy, shaping the world long after we’re gone.
So I ask you: Who is your leadership hero, and how are they shaping the leader you’re becoming? The answer might be more important than you think.
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