At H.I.E.C, we’re privileged to speak with exceptional leaders every day. Throughout the year, through our Heads Up interview series, we’ve sat down with 15 of the world’s most transformational executives—CEOs, founders, investors, board chairs, and global HR leaders across technology, healthcare, fashion, finance, cybersecurity, retail, and beyond.

Despite operating in vastly different sectors, they share a consistent viewpoint on what truly drives success: authentic leadership, the courage to challenge convention, the wisdom to use technology as an amplifier rather than a replacement, and an unwavering commitment to developing others. Here are the lessons they’ve shared.

Leadership is about connection, not command

“Leadership is no longer about having the answers, it’s about playing on multiple chessboards at once: managing today’s execution while shaping tomorrow’s possibilities.” – Annmarie Neal, Chief People Officer, Zendesk

“The best leaders are translators. I spend most of my time translating between different worlds: helping engineers understand customer pain points, helping customers see technical possibilities.” – Dev Nag, Founder & CEO, QueryPal

“Good leadership is about creating clarity, unlocking potential, and driving meaningful progress. It’s not about being the smartest person. It’s about connecting people to purpose.” – Brian Duffy, Chief Revenue Officer, Atlassian

“Setting a clear and simple direction, setting up crystal clear accountabilities and enabling great people to deliver it. Wherever possible, always take the blame, never the credit.” – James Bailey, former Managing Director, Waitrose & Partners

Authenticity is strength, not weakness

“There is far more value in being vulnerable. It made me more human, more real, more approachable. It created connections I never had before and made me a much better leader.”- Phill Robinson, Founder, Boardwave

“Have greater belief in what you are capable of. Pace yourself. Life is a marathon, not a sprint, and we all have our own journey.” – Rebecca DeNiro, Chair & Board Director

“Never underestimate how much passion, strength and energy are required. Good leadership means setting direction, listening, and genuinely knowing the people you work with beyond the office.”- Gianni Georgiades, CEO, FitFlop

Your career path doesn’t have to be linear

“Careers aren’t linear—they’re organic and at times can be scary, but they are exciting! The best opportunities usually show up when you least expect them.” – Ruth Gellert-Neale, Global HR Executive Director, JLL

“Try scary things – I believe you always regret not trying more than trying. Even if you don’t do brilliantly, you will learn so much.” – Sarah Miles, CEO, Hush

“Be brave, take calculated risks and push boundaries. You’ll lose some, but the wins you create that way are transformative.” – Gianni Georgiades, CEO, FitFlop

Challenge the status quo constructively

“Businesses tend to be a permanent work in progress, ever-changing in an effort to improve. Once you realise that, it gives you confidence to challenge the status quo constructively.” – James Bailey, former Managing Director, Waitrose & Partners

“I’m always fascinated by how complicated most businesses make things and how to cut through that complexity.” – James Bailey, former Managing Director, Waitrose & Partners

Technology amplifies human judgment, it doesn’t replace it

“AI will be a powerful enabler, but sustained performance will come from how effectively companies align talent, technology, business processes and strategy.” – Annmarie Neal, Chief People Officer, Zendesk

“Implementing AI is not about replacing people but about making them more productive. The goal is a co-pilot, not an autonomous replacement.” – David Parry-Jones, Chief Revenue Officer, DeepL

“To succeed in this era, vendors need two things: a defensible moat starting with proprietary data, and cost advantage. AI isn’t magic. It’s an execution game.” – Jim Pflaging, CEO, Cynergy Partners

“Companies that move early to embed AI capabilities into their product DNA, while ensuring safety and transparency, will set the pace for the next decade.” – Walid Abu-Hadba, Chief Product Officer, Sage

“The hardest problems aren’t technical; they’re anthropological. How do you build an AI that understands not just what people are asking, but what they’re trying to accomplish?” – Dev Nag, Founder & CEO, QueryPal

Build teams smarter than yourself

“If you want to go far, go together. Surround yourself with people technically better than yourself.” – Rebecca DeNiro, Chair & Board Director

“Good brain and good heart. A good leader means you want to follow them. If they’re not smart or not kind, that’s a turn-off.” – Nicolas Sauvage, President, TDK Ventures

“I try to bring together leaders who are smart, curious and have low egos. If personal ambition comes above all else, then it’s poisonous.” – James Bailey, former Managing Director, Waitrose & Partners

“Diversity in recruiting and mentorship programs make a measurable difference. We do better work when different walks of life come together.” – Brian Duffy, Chief Revenue Officer, Atlassian

“When we asked why people joined Dedale, learning came out as the number one reason. We invest heavily in continuous learning and mentorship.” – Benjamin Forlani, Founder & CEO, Dedale

Continuous learning is non-negotiable

“Always expect and be prepared for constant change and embrace it wholeheartedly. Flexibility is the new agility.” – Olga Selina, VP IT Data Platforms, AI & Global Functions, Baxter International

“Pursue excellence, not perfection. Excellence is an internal standard that drives continuous growth and pushes you to become a master of your craft.” – Annmarie Neal, Chief People Officer, Zendesk

“I focus on maintaining curiosity and humility, which means wanting to learn new ways and knowing my ways are nearly always local maxima that need to be challenged.” – Nicolas Sauvage, President, TDK Ventures

“I’m a firm believer in continuous learning. Great leadership is really about developing others, not just directing them. The moment you think you’ve figured it all out is when you start falling behind.” – Ruth Gellert-Neale, Global HR Executive Director, JLL

Develop others, don’t just direct them

“The best leaders aren’t the ones with all the answers—they’re the ones who help others discover their own potential. Instead of ‘Do this because I said so,’ ask ‘How can I help you grow through this challenge?'” – Ruth Gellert-Neale, Global HR Executive Director, JLL

Each of our 15 Heads Up interviews is available in full on our website. The full series features candid conversations with leaders at Zendesk, Sage, Atlassian, FitFlop, Hush, QueryPal, Dedale, Cynergy Partners, Baxter International, TDK Ventures, DeepL, Boardwave, Waitrose & Partners, JLL and more. Visit hiec.com/heads-up-interviews to explore the full series.