What it takes to be a CEO in troubled times: Is the age of the extroverted, larger-than-life CEO coming to an end?
Vineet Nayar, Founder, Sampark Foundation & former CEO of HCL Technologies, looks at the change through a generational lens. The Gen Z workforce, with abundant opportunities, is amplifying the demand for authenticity and purpose. For them, leadership is not about charisma or showmanship, but about alignment between values and action. “Gen Z is posing sharper questions to prospective employers: What purpose does this organisation serve beyond profit? Does the culture value people as much as productivity? Is there genuine commitment to society and environment?” says the IT industry veteran. This explains why many young professionals are rejecting traditional corporate paths in favour of start-ups, social ventures, and purpose-led organisations.
Yet, Nayar cautions against confusing personality with substance. “Much is being written about the decline of the extroverted CEO and the rise of the ambivert leader, one who can switch between introvert and extrovert traits. It’s an attractive storyline but misses the essence of leadership,” he says. “Leadership has little to do with whether one is an extrovert, an introvert, or an ambivert. History shows us that people do not follow behaviours, they follow ideas.”
Nayar draws inspiration from history to illustrate why personality is secondary to purpose. “Religious leaders are the best proof. They do not pay salaries, yet they inspire millions. Some are powerful orators, others remain silent for years, but both command loyalty even after their lifetimes. The reason is simple: followers are moved by the ideas they represent, not by how they say it,” he says. There is no one right answer, adds the IT industry veteran. “We needed Steve Jobs’ articulation during transformation, yet he picked his opposite in Tim Cook. Bill Gates did the opposite. Leadership is not about behaviour. The difference is conviction, not charisma. The real transformation people should attempt is moving from personality to purpose, from behaviour to belief.”