Tony Elumelu Hosts First Executive Knowledge-Sharing Session for 2026, Calls for Purpose-Driven Leadership
Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, Tony Elumelu, has held the first executive knowledge-sharing session for 2026, urging leaders to reflect deeply on their approach to leadership in a rapidly changing world.
Speaking during the session, Elumelu noted that global shifts continue to create both opportunities and threats, stressing that leadership must not be passive, complacent, arrogant, or distant. He described effective leadership as rooted in simplicity — clarity of purpose, disciplined execution, and the courage to lead with authenticity.
READ ALSO: Amazigh Communities Across North Africa Celebrate New Year 2976
Elumelu shared personal insights on the importance of strong relationships between leaders and their teams, emphasizing that success is significantly enhanced when leadership goes beyond command and control. According to him, empathy, trust, and the ability to understand perspectives at all levels of an organization are critical elements of effective leadership.
Recalling his early career, Elumelu reflected on a former boss whose leadership style still influences him today. He explained that the relationship they built was founded on trust and intentional connection, motivating him to perform not out of fear, but out of respect. He credited that mentorship for pushing him beyond his comfort zone and shaping his leadership philosophy.
One memorable example he shared was being taken to unfamiliar dining settings, including a Japanese restaurant in London where he struggled with using chopsticks. Elumelu said those experiences were not about food, but about exposure, learning, and building deeper connections beyond the workplace.
He noted that these lessons have guided his own leadership style, making him intentional about connecting with his team and exposing them to experiences beyond the office environment. Elumelu stressed that creating an enabling environment is more important than exercising authority, adding that leaders must remove obstacles and empower their teams to perform.
As the year begins, Elumelu called on leaders to reassess their methods, highlighting that leadership is about engagement rather than hierarchy, accessibility rather than distance, and trust rather than control. He encouraged leaders to remain open to change, build meaningful relationships, and allow team members to take ownership of their work.
Elumelu concluded by emphasizing that when leaders act with conviction, build trust, remove roadblocks, and execute with discipline, success becomes intentional and sustainable, achieved not by chance, but by design.
Tony Elumelu Hosts First Executive Knowledge-Sharing Session for 2026, Calls for Purpose-Driven Leadership