This year, I found myself sitting with a question that I couldn’t shake. Where are the empaths, the spiritual people, and the ethical visionaries in business? Why aren’t they leading the way?
Look around, and it’s clear who runs the show in our economy. Corporate leaders, MBA graduates, people trained to think in terms of profits, KPIs, and endless growth. And hey, I’ve been part of that world too. I’ve worked in it, learned from it, and to some extent, thrived in it.
But... I’ve also stepped into a different corner of the world lately. I’ve met (please, don't roll your eyes) spiritual leaders. Hear me out! I’ve met people who genuinely care about others. They value community and sustainability. They are naturally gifted at helping others be their best. They’re the kind of people who dream of a better world and take small, meaningful steps toward it every day.
Yet they’re rarely the ones we see in positions of power. They’re not running companies, shaping industries, or holding the mic at leadership conferences. And honestly? It rather frustrates me.
This isn’t going to be a rant about how shareholder value broke capitalism (tempting as that is). Let’s save that for another time. Today, I want to dig into this: Why aren’t there more empaths, spiritual people, and ethical visionaries at the top? And more importantly, how can we change that?

The Usual Route to Power

Most people aiming for leadership roles tend to follow a fairly predictable path. It often involves a business school, professional certifications, endless networking events, you know the drill. These schools and programs often focus on teaching how to maximize profits and boost efficiency. It’s a numbers game: ROI, margins, KPIs. And sure, these are important. But where does that leave things like empathy? To climb the corporate ladder, in-group bias comes in handy. It’s when we perceive people who are similar to us as smarter and more trustworthy. So if the previous generation didn’t care about ethical considerations or a vision for the greater good, it’s unlikely to be the winning strategy for a promotion.

Not surprisingly, the leaders we end up with are often those who excel at financial success above all else. Studies support this – research from the Harvard Business Review reveals that 77% of leaders prioritise shareholder returns and operational metrics over long-term societal or environmental impact. McKinsey adds that only 16% of executives believe their organizations successfully balance financial performance with broader purpose-driven goals. Additionally, a study published in the Journal of Business Ethics noted that business ethics and firm profitability are often seen as opposing concepts, with many CEOs perceived as prioritizing financial gains over ethical considerations!

The Spiritual and Empathetic Journey

On the flip side, those who lean toward a more spiritual or empathetic way of being often prioritise activities that foster inner growth and connection. They might explore mindfulness practices, meditation, or journaling – not as a universal rule, but as tools that resonate with many on a path of self-awareness. They value community, sustainability, and the interconnectedness of all life, building their lives around these principles.

These qualities – empathy, introspection, and a holistic perspective – are powerful and necessary in leadership. However, the structures that traditionally groom people for business leadership don’t often highlight or reward these traits.

As a result, many spiritual individuals or empathetic visionaries end up outside the traditional pathways to leadership. They cultivate their skills and values in different spaces – communities, workshops, or grassroots initiatives – but these spaces don’t always intersect with the boardrooms or corporate offices where decisions that shape industries are made.

What’s Holding Them Back?

There are a few reasons why we don’t see more of these compassionate, visionary people in leadership roles:

1. Perceived Incompatibility: People think business and spirituality don’t mix, so spiritually-minded folks often don’t even consider leadership roles.
2. Lack of Role Models: There aren’t many well-known leaders who combine business acumen with empathy and ethical vision, making it hard for others to follow that path.
3. Educational Divide: Business schools don’t typically teach mindfulness, empathy, or ethical decision-making, so there’s a gap in the skill set.
4. Cultural Norms: Corporate cultures tend to reward aggressive, profit-focused behaviour, which doesn’t align well with the values of many spiritually-minded individuals.

How to Become an Empathetic Leader

So, how do we bridge the gap and encourage more empathetic, ethical people to step into leadership roles? After some thinking and debating at length with ChatGPT, I came to a conclusion that it starts by challenging the traditional definitions of leadership and carving out pathways for those who bring compassion, vision, and integrity into the fold. But before I share my ideas – the most important message is this: it starts with you, dear leader. Whether you are someone who wants to make this world a little better than you found it, or someone who stumbled upon this post thinking that maybe there’s a bit more to leadership than you thought, your action is what it takes to make a change. Here are some actionable steps:

1. Redefine Success
   Why It Matters: Traditional success metrics – profits, market share, efficiency – are often narrow and short-sighted. To create a lasting impact, we need to broaden our perspective.
   How to Do It: Define your own metrics for success that include social impact, sustainability, and community well-being. Consider frameworks like the triple bottom line (people, planet, profit) or stakeholder capitalism, which balances the needs of all stakeholders – not just shareholders. I’m super stoked to write more about that in the future.
2. Integrate Empathy into Education
   Why It Matters: Most leadership training focuses on hard skills – analytics, strategy, financial modelling – while soft skills like empathy and ethics take a back seat.
   How to Do It: Advocate for changes in educational systems. For example, look for or create courses that integrate mindfulness, emotional intelligence, and ethical decision-making into business curricula. Seek programmes like conscious capitalism training, or consider online platforms like Coursera or edX, which now offer empathy-focused leadership courses. This is ultimately my dream – to educate, and empower the next generation of leaders, so if that’s you – strap in.
3. Find Mentorship and Role Models
   Why It Matters: Aspiring leaders need to see real examples of empathy in action to believe it’s possible.
   How to Do It: Actively seek out leaders who embody these traits. For example, companies like Patagonia are often cited for their socially and environmentally conscious leadership. Engage with individuals and organisations that prioritise ethics and vision. If you’re already in a leadership role, mentor others with a focus on these values.
4. Create and Join Support Networks
   Why It Matters: Change doesn’t happen in isolation. To bring more empathetic leaders into the world, we need community.
   How to Do It: Join or create groups that support socially responsible business ideas. Examples include organisations like B Lab (certifying B Corps), or forums like the Conscious Capitalism Movement. Collaborate with others who share your values to amplify your efforts.
5. Focus on Holistic Development
   Why It Matters: Personal and professional growth are deeply intertwined. Leaders who invest in their own well-being are better equipped to lead with clarity and compassion.
   How to Do It: Develop a daily or weekly routine that includes mindfulness, meditation, journaling, or other reflective practices. Here’s a journal prompt I created to get you started. You can duplicate it (top right corner) in Notion here or use the prompts in your written journal. These tools help build emotional resilience, increase self-awareness, and improve decision-making.
6. Champion Ethical Practices
   Why It Matters: Ethical leadership isn’t just a “nice-to-have”—it’s a necessity for long-term success in an interconnected world.
   How to Do It: Commit to ethical principles in every business decision. This includes fair treatment of employees, transparent supply chains, and prioritising environmental sustainability. Support movements like The UN Global Compact, which provides frameworks for ethical business practices.

Bringing it All Together

The world isn’t short on people who care deeply or dream big. What we’re missing are leaders who combine compassion with action, empathy with strategy. The kind of people who don’t just talk about change but step into the uncomfortable spaces where it actually happens.

Leadership doesn’t need to be about climbing ladders or chasing titles. It’s about showing up – whether that’s in boardrooms, classrooms, or community spaces – and making decisions that leave people and the planet better off.

If you’re someone who feels that pull – towards connection, sustainability, or a more humane way of working – this is your call to step up. Not to wait for permission, not to think you need to have it all figured out, but to start. The world needs more leaders who care, and that starts with people like you.

Because the future isn’t going to build itself. It’s waiting for us to create it, piece by thoughtful piece.