Introduction: Leadership Beyond Theories
Leadership is more than just concepts written in books or corporate jargon. Today’s leaders are navigating fast-changing environments, integrating new technologies, and showing emotional intelligence in ways that resonate with their teams.
Let’s dive into some trending leadership interviews from 2025 that share real stories, practical advice, and approachable lessons for anyone interested in how effective leadership looks today.
1. Leading with Empathy — The CEO Who Cried Bob Jordan, CEO of Southwest Airlines, recently opened up about the emotional weight of leadership, revealing he cried over the airline’s first-ever layoffs involving 1,750 employees. This moment reminds us leadership isn’t only strategic decision-making; it involves genuine emotion and empathy when facing tough challenges.
Jordan’s vulnerability highlights how leaders must balance business realities with human compassion — a powerful metaphor for steering not just a company, but a community of people.
2. AI Mindset: The New Must-Have Leadership Skill Michael Mokhtari from ChargeLab emphasizes that having an AI skillset is no longer enough; a proactive AI mindset is critical. This means being curious, adaptable, and welcoming AI as a tool rather than a threat.
Companies are now screening for candidates who show this mindset during interviews — not just their technical chops — through sandbox environments where they demonstrate AI use.
Leadership today means fostering curiosity and adaptability across departments, making AI literacy part of hiring criteria and key performance indicators.
3. Leadership in Tech Giants: Meta’s Rigorous Approach Meta exemplifies leadership focused on growth, ownership, and technical mastery. Their interviews assess not only candidates’ skills but also their initiative and long-term potential.
A concrete example: candidates are tasked with designing real-world systems, like fraud detection dashboards that reflect operational needs and user insights. This hands-on approach underlines leadership as problem-solving anchored in practical impact, pushing future leaders to think critically and communicate effectively.
4. Digital PR and Leadership Communication Will Hobson, US VP of PR at Rise at Seven, points out that digital PR is just PR nowadays, stressing the importance of blending brand relevance with cultural relevance and business goals.
His insights teach leaders to be strategic counselors — going beyond messaging to advise senior leadership on deeper issues like political risk and business environments.
This story is a cue that leadership communication is evolving into a trusted advisory role—much like a counselor—shaping how companies adapt and thrive.
5. The Reality Check: Employees Outpacing Leaders on AI A revealing trend in 2025 shows employees often outpace leaders in AI usage and understanding. Half of employees feel they lack proper AI training and ethical guidelines from their companies.
For leaders, this is a call to action to simplify workplaces, prioritize employee wellbeing over short-term gains, and bridge gaps in AI literacy.
It’s a leadership metaphor for clearing the fog — helping teams stay focused and confident amid technological and cultural chaos.
Key Takeaways for Everyday Leadership:
- Embrace vulnerability: Leaders can be strong and empathetic, making human connection a priority.
- Develop an AI mindset: Curiosity and adaptability to AI tools are as essential as technical skills.
- Lead with practical impact: Solve real problems with clear communication and ownership.
- Communicate as a trusted advisor: Be strategic, culturally tuned, and business-focused.
- Support your people: Foster learning, reduce chaos, and put wellbeing first.
Leadership is a living, breathing practice shaped by emotions, mindset shifts, and real-world problems. The voices and stories from 2025 remind us: leadership is not static or remote — it’s human, practical, and evolving.
These insights provide a relatable, down-to-earth blueprint for anyone looking to grow as a leader in today’s complex world.
References:
- https://technologymagazine.com/news/ltw-2025-interview-with-inrupt-co-founder-ceo-john-bruce
- https://procurementmag.com/news/coupa-inspire-2025-interview-michael-quinn-datamap
- https://allwork.space/2025/06/a-strong-ai-mindset-is-the-job-interview-must-have-for-2025/
- https://airlinegeeks.com/2025/06/27/southwest-ceo-says-he-cried-over-airline-s-first-ever-layoffs/
- https://www.interviewquery.com/interview-guides/meta
- https://holtz.com/blog/for-immediate-release/fir-201-wow-mom-airs-big-launch
- https://www.thehrdirector.com/business-news/ai/top-employee-experience-trends-2025/
- https://www.kent.edu/cci/internships-job-search
