RESEARCH

The six shifts: What “better” leadership really means

Professor Vicki Culpin and Professor Debbie Bayntun-Lees

Explore the Better Leaders Paradox

This report explores one of the most pressing questions facing organizations today: what does it truly mean to be a “better” leader?

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A woman leader is in two poses with geometric shapes and a signature overlay, set against a beige background.

What does it really mean to be a “better” leader?

A “better” leader. How often have you thought that you, or your own manager, need to be a better leader? What does better actually look like? What would you (or they) be doing more of, less of or differently?

This research – led by Professor Vicki Culpin and Professor Debbie Bayntun-Lees – set out to understand what leaders really mean when they ask for “better”.

Drawing on the voices of 350 participants across industries, regions, and organizational levels, the findings surface a consistent and powerful narrative of human-centered leadership.

"Leadership and learning are indispensable to each other."
John F. Kennedy

The research also acknowledges that there is no end point in the pursuit of better leadership. The moment we arrive at one horizon, another appears. This is the paradox of better leaders.

When we recognize the dynamic and evolving nature of “better”, we enable people to become more adaptive, more human, and, ultimately, more impactful leaders.

What you'll discover in the research:

The skills, mindsets, and behaviors associated with “better” leadership based on participant views of themselves as leaders as well as those who lead them

Six critical shifts in the pursuit of “better” leadership and the key implications for leadership development

Notable differences in perspectives by gender, seniority level, and region

Perceptions of alignment between participants and their leaders

An exploration of how the perception of “better” today compares to research conducted by Dr Vicki Culpin in 2021

Stacked Hult Ashridge reports laying on top of a gradient blue green background

What does "better" leadership really look like?

Download the research to read about the six critical shifts in the pursuit of "better" leadership and the key implications for leadership development

Get the research

Meet the experts

Vicki Culpin

Professor of Organizational Behavior at Hult International Business School

Vicki specializes in how to master leadership and resilience in turbulent times and has spent over 20 years researching the impact of well-being and memory. 

Vicki also researches in the field of adult pedagogy, specifically in relation to learning transfer. Vicki works with a range of clients from across the world, advising on leadership development, along with sharing her research findings.

Debbie Bayntun-Lees

Professor of Organizational Change at Hult International Business School

With extensive experience in leadership and organizational development, Debbie works with boards, senior teams, and HR practitioners to foster inclusive leadership, navigate cultural transformations, and build high-performing teams in complex environments.

A former Managing Director of Connecting for Change Ltd and senior leader in the UK NHS, Debbie’s research explores workplace dynamics, focusing on gender equity and inclusive dialogue. Her doctoral work uncovered how women are “socially silenced” in professional settings. Passionate about gender equity, Debbie designs innovative learning solutions to support leaders in creating inclusive workplaces where everyone can thrive.