Editorial by Managing Director Alexander De Beir
Business & politics… for worse or for better?
Today, they seem to have become inseparable. The President of the United States promoting a car brand owned by the world’s richest man—whose influence on both domestic and foreign policy is immeasurable—is a reality that at least part of the world must contend with. This raises significant concerns, particularly regarding conflicts of interest and the potential adverse effects on the common good. Whilst these should, after all, be the primary objective of political governance.
However, this does not mean that individuals who have built successful careers in the business world have no place in politics. On the contrary, politics can undoubtedly benefit from the pragmatism and results-driven approach that are essential in the corporate sector. More than ever, political leaders are expected to deliver results quickly. With the rise of AI and the increasing frequency of economic data—whether accurate or not—this pressure will only intensify. It is therefore no coincidence that an increasing number of political leaders have spent at least part of their careers in the private sector. Think of figures like Macron or Merz.
In this edition of TIP-IM, however, we turn the tables. Instead of examining what business leaders can bring to politics, we explore what political leaders can teach managers.
From World War II to classical antiquity
An increasingly hectic corporate world risks leading to dead-end situations, where business leaders can no longer see the forest for the trees. The words of Nelson Mandela—”Vision without action is just a dream, action without vision just passes the time, and vision with action can change the world.”—are more relevant than ever as a powerful source of inspiration.
Mahatma Gandhi’s famous words, “You must be the change you want to see in the world,” have undoubtedly become the guiding principle for young, disruptive entrepreneurs at the start of their journey toward success.
When discussing transformational leadership—a trait that characterizes many successful 21st-century tycoons—we must, of course, think of Winston Churchill during World War II. His unwavering determination inspired an entire nation to resist an overwhelming force. At the darkest hours of the war, Churchill’s ability to articulate his vision of triumph and unify the people was crucial in maintaining morale and solidarity.
My passion for history, however, often compels me to look even further back in time. Classical Antiquity remains an incredibly rich source of inspiration for entrepreneurship. It is with great pleasure, therefore, that we had the opportunity to speak with Luc Devoldere—classicist, writer, publicist and former Latin and Greek teacher at the Sint-Barbara College in Ghent. On the occasion of his latest book, “Zwerven langs de limes, de randen van het Romeinse Rijk”, we had the chance to interview him for an engaging and enlightening discussion on how certain Roman emperors continue to inspire today’s business leaders.
Happy reading!
