I purchased Carney’s book Value(s): Building a Better World for All, four years ago when it first came out. I have spent most of my working life focusing on values-based leadership and still search for how to do it well. Lots of research has been done in academe, but the voice of a practitioner is valuable. People who work outside protected bubbles who put their reputations (and jobs) on the line every day have a unique take on leadership. The courage it takes in the face of opposition, especially in times of crisis. Carney points out that authority is not leadership and any institutional authority is not sustainable without maintaining social licence. Social licence is informal, created by building trust, positive engagement and responsible actions. He claimed that transformational leadership comes from being authentic, passionate, supportive and trustworthy and that the ability to draw upon the talent of others in collaborative effort towards a common purpose is key. So does his perspective still work today in 2025?

I picked up the book again during our current political upheaval. I focused this time on his overall writings in terms of building and sustaining an economy. It is a readable lesson in economic policy – not one of my favourite subjects. Now, with our sovereignty being threatened and our economy under attack, I find the lesson much more palatable. It is a big read, but one worth the time. I learned a lot about the balance between financial stability and social impact, building not just diversity but inclusion into any organization. I appreciated the writing much more the second time around.

One thing I know for sure about values-based leadership.  An attribute that is always evident in a successful leader is humility. I have been watching and listening to the current debates from our politicians. We indeed are living in interesting times. I am watching what they do as opposed to the rhetoric they say. I think it was Maya Anjelou who said “when someone shows you who they are, believe them”.