Shape-shifter executives: Proof that sideways is the new up

We’re operating in a world where change is no longer a curveball. Over the last five years, we’ve all lived through a global pandemic, supply chain meltdowns, trade wars and tariffs, and now the profound wave of AI reshaping how we work. In this kind of environment, leadership can’t be static. Roles can’t stay rigid. They have to flex, evolve and shape shift to meet what the market demands—not just today, but tomorrow and beyond.

The traditional ladder to the C-suite—one steady rung after another—doesn’t fit this era of constant disruption. What companies need now are what I call Shape-Shifter Executives: leaders who can pivot seamlessly between roles, adjust strategy in real time and guide distributed teams through transformation again and again. And then do it again the following week. READ MORE