Leadership has always been central to shaping societies, organizations, and communities, yet traditional and modern leadership frameworks often fall short of addressing the complexities of today’s global challenges. This paper explores the concept of contemporary leadership as a dynamic, value-driven paradigm that integrates strategic foresight, integrity, and inclusivity to meet the demands of a rapidly evolving world. Drawing from historical and theoretical perspectives, the study highlights the limitations of transactional and transformational leadership models while examining the systemic failures that have fueled a global leadership crisis.
The paper synthesizes insights from the MyREF Contemporary Leadership Quality and Development Study (2024) and broader leadership theories to define contemporary leadership as the integrative practice of inspiring, influencing, and mobilizing individuals and systems to achieve meaningful, sustainable, and ethical outcomes.
