Why Creatives Make Great Leaders

In our previous articles, we've shared how creatives can get into the boardroom and the skills they need to take their companies to the next level. Now let's explore why we need more creative leaders and what unique traits they bring to a company.

To find answers, we sat down with Rama Gheerawo, author of the newly published book Creative Leadership: How to Design the 21st-century Organisation. Insights from Rama’s 18 years of leadership experience hit home and gave us even more confidence in the future of creative leadership and its enormous power.

Watch the full interview or dive into our key insights below:

Why creatives make great leaders?

Empathy, Clarity and Creativity: The Three Values of Creative Leadership

Current approach to leadership is mainly hierarchical and often excludes difference, leaving many voices unheard. Creative Leadership is a response to this. It's about fostering inclusion and equality​​ through empathy, clarity, and creativity.

► Empathy builds trust and welcomes new voices.
► Clarity aligns vision, direction, and communication.
► Creativity enables innovative solutions that have real-world impact.

And you need all three - empathy alone makes you a “pushover,” clarity alone makes you a “dictator,” and creativity alone leaves you “pedalling hard but getting nowhere.”

Creativity is the Deepest Form of Intelligence

Creativity isn't just a heart-driven "soft skill" – it's your fastest and most powerful form of intelligence, moving at the speed of light while logic struggles to catch up. The creative sector in the UK is worth more than the financial sector – proving that creativity is essential to make the society and economy run.

Creatives have the power to see pathways through the mist and solve the stickiest innovation problems faster.

Creatives Are Great Leaders Because They "Show Their Soul"

Every time a creative shows their art, film, or design, they show a little bit of their soul. This vulnerability creates genuine connection and trust – crucial qualities for leadership to thrive. Unlike traditional leadership, which leans on authority and distance, creatives lead through openness and collaboration.