In the first of a series of Handshake interviews, Courageous Leaders: Profiles of Impact Executives, JR Kerr and Cardinal Turkson discussed a defining characteristic of all leaders: courage.
The Impact Executive possesses five strong virtues: transparency, empathy, wisdom, humility, and courage.
C.S Lewis, the British writer and theologian, defined courage as “every virtue at its testing point.” Courage is the ability to do the right thing, even when it is unpopular and risky.
According to Cardinal Turkson, “the real courage derives from the fact of feeling, of being convinced about doing the right thing.” He goes on to say, “There’s a conviction that business leaders have deep within their hearts that they’re doing the right thing…they’re promoting the right work.”
The Courageous Leaders series highlights leaders who exemplify the five traits of an Impact Executive and have a strong desire for responsible action, adding value to consumers, employees, local communities, and society.
In light of the COVID-19 pandemic, companies need to step up to offer business solutions that create real value and have lasting impact in society.