The Three Professors talk about leadership

In 2006, Excelerator joined together with the Sir Peter Blake Trust, Leadership New Zealand and the New Zealand Institute of Management to initiate the inaugural ‘New Zealand Leadership Week’ to highlight the strategic relevance and value of leadership for New Zealand.

Below are some audio excerpts from the 'Three Professors' event staged by Excelerator as a part of that week.

(please click on the 'Listen Now' link beside each question to hear the related answer)

What are your definitions of leadership, how do you see leadership? Listen now

What qualities do you think are the most vital, the essential, the non-negotiable for leadership? Listen now

You three teach leadership, so I really want to ask you the fundamental question. Do you believe you can teach leadership, or are people born with leadership qualities? Listen now

Do you think it's possible for a person to become a great leader if they are driven by self interest? Listen now

Do you think there is any difference in leadership requirements in the private, public, or non profit sector? Listen now

Is there a distinction between leadership and management? Listen now

Are there any things that you see as distinctive challenges in the New Zealand context? Listen now

You mention that the leader needs to be fair and of course we don't want leaders to be unfair. But isn't there a third level which is the caring, and perhaps affectionate, person? I'd like you to comment on that, the usefulness of care and affection within the professional life? Listen now

We hear quite a lot about leadership in a collective sense, the way leadership has to be present within a group of people for them to actually act in a cohesive and well directed way. We didn't hear you talk as much about the individual qualities of the leader. Perhaps it's useful to say that managers are appointed from above, leaders are taken from below. You cannot determine if you are going to be the leader because it's other people who make that decision. Have you got any thoughts about that? Listen now

Master of Ceremonies: 

Ms Jenny Gibbs

Ms Gibbs is Pro Chancellor of the University of Auckland and has been a member of University Council since 1975. She is a Companion of the New Zealand Order of Merit and a well known patron of the Arts.

The Three Professors:

Dr Lester Levy

Dr Levy is the Chief Executive of Excelerator and Adjunct Professor of Leadership at The University of Auckland Business School. 

Dr Brad Jackson

Dr. Jackson is the Fletcher Building Education Trust Professor of Leadership at The University of Auckland Business School.  Prior to this he was the Director of the Centre for the Study of Leadership and Head of School of the Management School at Victoria University of Wellington. 

Dr Allan Lind  

Dr. Lind is a Professor of Business Administration at The Fuqua School of Business at Duke University in the U.S., and is a Visiting Professor of Leadership and Organisational Behaviour at The University of Auckland Business School.