Leaders that CEOs admire most

What makes a leader? What does it take to lead a business in the context of a changing economic landscape? What should businesses expect of those leading them into the uncertainties of tomorrow?
As part of its 16th Annual Global CEO Survey, PwC recently asked 1,400 CEOs from around the world which leaders they most admired, and what they most admired about their actions.
Some clear types emerged: warriors, (Napoleon; Alexander the Great) reformers (Jack Welch), leaders though adversity (Winston Churchill; Abraham Lincoln), leaders who caught the imagination of the masses (Mahatma Gandhi; Nelson Mandela) and consensus builders like Bill Clinton.
Winston Churchill was the most popular choice of all CEOs with Steve Jobs (an innovator) admired in the most number of countries (37).
Twice-serving as British prime minister (1940-45; 1951-55), Churchill has wide appeal and popularity across Western Europe, coming top in France ahead of Charles de Gaulle and beating Niccolo Machiavelli to the top spot in Italy.
CEOs’ top ten leaders:
1. Winston Churchill
2. Steve Jobs
3. Mahatma Gandhi
4. Nelson Mandela
5. Jack Welch
6. Abraham Lincoln
7. Margaret Thatcher
8. Ronald Reagan
9. John F Kennedy
=10. Bill Clinton/Napoleon Bonaparte
Some 60% of CEOs chose a post-war politician or military leader. The other most popular categories were business leaders, historical leaders and contemporary leaders, in that order. Smaller categories include writers, artists, philosophers, sports people, religious leaders and fictional characters. 1% chose a colleague.
Fifteen women were named, of whom Margaret Thatcher was the only one to make the top ten. The next most-named women were Angela Merkel, Ayn Rand, Mother Teresa and Queen Elizabeth I. Women were four times more likely to choose a female leader than men.
“It’s clear that the role and expectations of leaders are changing, not withstanding that, CEOs continue to look back over history to identity role models. The dynamic between short-term targets, longer-term goals and increased transparency ushered in by the digital revolution is breeding a new generation of agile leaders,” said Michael Rendell, Global Head of PwC’s Human Resource Services.
To see the full results of the survey into CEOs most admired leaders, go to www.pwc.com/ceosurvey/leaders .