“Do you think leaders are born, or can leadership be developed?”
This was the question we discussed in class during our session on “Leadership”. We explored different leadership styles, the skills leaders need, and whether strong leadership comes naturally or is shaped through experience. Some fellows sometimes say that leadership is something you’re born with. Others believe that learning, practice, and growth matter more.
This conversation made a strong impact on me, and I wanted to explore the idea more deeply.
To do that, I looked at three different leaders and their stories to understand whether leadership is something we develop.
Steve Jobs – Leadership Through Practice
Many people think Steve Jobs was born a leader. I read more about his biography and discovered that he practised many times for his keynote presentations.
He worked closely with his team to craft messages and stories that could inspire people. Jobs wanted to move and motivate others, and he worked on his communication skills carefully.
Jack Ma – Leadership Through Perseverance
Jack Ma, the founder of Alibaba, is often praised for his charisma and confidence, but his story began very differently.
He failed his university entrance exams twice, was rejected from dozens of jobs, and grew up quite shy. He shared that, despite all this, he kept learning English, practising communication, and improving himself every day. His perseverance and resilience shaped his leadership.
Howard Schultz – Leadership Through Observation
Howard Schultz, former CEO of Starbucks, developed his leadership by observing people.
Growing up in a struggling working-class family, he saw how employees were treated, and these early experiences shaped his values. Later, in Italy, he carefully watched baristas and cafés, and brought back that experience to Starbucks. Schultz built his leadership through empathy, observation, and connecting with people.
Just like Jobs, Ma, and Schultz, we shape our leadership every time we practise, observe, and persevere. For me, this captures what leadership development really is: finding our own style.
And what about you? Do you think leaders are born or created?
ベリタスイングリッシュ ｜中上級者向け 短期集中 ビジネス英語 コーチング
Veritas Coach
Cristina Raffa
Cristina was born in the hot and sunny Sicily, an island in the South of Italy. She graduated in Foreign languages and literature and her interest is currently focused on Japanese language and culture. After many study trips to the UK, she decided to move there for a period of time and improve her English. When she came back to Italy, she started to teach English and Italian to students from children to adults, wanting to put in practice what she had learned in university. Focusing on her Japanese, she did an exchange study programme at Meiji University in Japan, where she discovered Veritas and its unique programme.
Here she can follow her passion and love for teaching and grow as a person thanks to her experience as a coach, improving her skills by focusing on the students and their progress.
With the help of a strong and united team, at Veritas she has the opportunity to inspire people and guide them to become global leaders of tomorrow.
