Desperately Seeking BRAVE Leaders
Photo by Andrew James on Unsplash
It is the one year anniversary of my first book, The BRAVE Leader. More Courage. Less Fear. Better decisions for inclusive leadership, being published.
I desired to consolidate a lot of the beliefs I have as a speaker, coach and advisor into a simple read. One that not only respected the commercial mores of enterprises but sought to bring some soul into it too. I wanted to bring the forthright nature of my position of leadership to the fore.
I am currently getting ready to record the audio version of the book as well as develop some other assets to compliment the learnings and make it as practical as possible to those either exploring, starting out or entrenched in leadership journeys.
At the time of writing this and viewing several leadership stages in the business, political and civic communities, it is incredibly prescient to revisit why we need to be brave.
My dad introduced me to a term some years back. Weitko.
This term which roughly translates as " parasitic consciousness " was coined by the Algonquin peoples of North America. It describes a state driven by insatiable greed, selfishness, and an inability to see beyond one's immediate desires. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to see this spoke to the European settler colonisation of America and the genocide of Native Americans as a result. This disease, they said, was not just an individual affliction but a collective one that can take root in societies, institutions, and nations, warping their moral compass and leading them down destructive paths.
We have seen it happen time and time again, and yet despite such a history, it persists.
The symptoms of Weitko are all too familiar.
Corporate excess prioritises profit over people and the planet. Political regimes consolidate power at the expense of democracy, and civic structures ignore the suffering of marginalised communities.
It is the force behind environmental destruction, economic disparity, and social erosion. It thrives in the unchecked corridors of power, where accountability is absent and the pursuit of more becomes an end in itself. More land, more money, more influence.
Walk with me.
In politics, Weitko manifests in regimes that erode democratic institutions for personal or ideological gain. Sound familiar?
We are witnessing countries globally where authoritarian leaders manipulate elections, silence dissent, and consolidate power while justifying their actions in the name of national security or economic growth, some more explicit about it than others.
Corruption scandals that divert public funds into the pockets of a few, leaving essential services like healthcare and education underfunded, also demonstrate how deeply ingrained this mindset can become.
In business, Weitko thrives in corporate structures that prioritise quarterly profits over long-term sustainability and ethical responsibility. The 2008 financial crisis exemplified how the unchecked pursuit of wealth can have devastating consequences. Fast fashion, which exploits workers and depletes natural resources for disposable consumer goods, is another sign of this mindset. food and beverage companies depleting water tables in countries where water scarcity is an issue. When businesses place short-term financial gains above the well-being of employees and the planet, they feed into the cycle.
At the community level, Weitko emerges when individuals and groups prioritise self-interest over collective well-being. It can be seen in gentrification, where long-standing residents are pushed out of their neighbourhoods due to rising costs driven by speculative real estate investments. It appears in societies where misinformation spreads, fostering division and allowing fear to replace empathy. When communities neglect their vulnerable populations and allow inequality to fester, Weitko takes root, creating a fractured and unstable social fabric.
I don’t believe that brave leadership is the antidote to Weitko, but it is definitely how I wish to make a dent in some of this. You see brave leadership requires courage to resist the allure of power without purpose, profit without principle, and progress without equity. The BRAVE leadership framework offers a way to counteract the Weitko mindset and create institutions that serve humanity rather than exploit it.
Boldness means leaders must challenge entrenched systems that propagate greed and short-term thinking. They must stand up against injustices, even when it is unpopular or risky.
Resilience is essential, as standing against the forces of Weitko requires endurance.
Agility is key in a world that is changing rapidly, and Weitko often morphs in ways that disguise its true nature. There is something to be said for leaders to be adaptable and willing to shift approaches while staying true to their core values.
Vision is crucial, to prevent this condition from thriving in societies that lack purpose beyond material gain. It is critical to articulate a vision that embraces sustainability, community well-being, and long-term prosperity for all.
Ethics is the ultimate weapon against Weitko. Ethical leaders will face opposition, but their commitment to integrity must remain unshaken. Brave leaders must uphold unwavering moral standards that transcend personal ambition and corporate profit.
Let’s be honest here. Weitko cannot be confronted by leadership alone. It requires the participation of all members of society. Individually, we cultivate self-awareness and question our complicity in systems of exploitation. Are we supporting ethical businesses? Are we voting for leaders who prioritise human dignity? Are we educating ourselves about the impact of our choices on future generations? Or are we too scared to rock the boat?
Collectively, communities must build resilience by fostering a culture of accountability. This means calling out corruption, supporting businesses that invest in sustainability, and advocating for policies that put people before profit. It means investing in education that teaches critical thinking, empathy, and the value of interconnectedness as well as being able to sit with the good and the bad of our history. Learning from both.
Throughout history, individuals and communities have resisted the influence of Weitko. Indigenous movements across the world have long stood against exploitative practices that threaten their land and cultures, advocating for ecological stewardship and communal governance. The civil rights movements in various nations have fought against systemic greed and oppression, working to dismantle structures that prioritise power over equality. For many watching political leaders driven by a sense of imperialism, it is heartbreaking to sit and not be able to do anything against those wielding the biggest guns, and bank accounts.
Recently, ethical business leaders have pioneered sustainable economic models, proving that profitability and social responsibility can coexist. Movements like fair trade and regenerative agriculture challenge exploitative corporate norms, proving that alternative paths exist. Community-led initiatives, such as mutual aid networks and cooperative economies, continue to demonstrate that societies can thrive on collaboration rather than competition. Free markets don’t have to be capitalist.
History has shown that Weitko is persistent, but it is not invincible. It thrives in ignorance and apathy, but it withers in the presence of conscious leadership and collective action. Something about leaders being brave enough to stick by their moral compass. Not paying fealty and bending the knee to the highest amoral bidder or populist trend of the moment but recognising there is enough for all of us to go around. Leaders who can tap into a spiritual vein, be it religious or otherwise, that remind them as custodians of wealth and power there is a duty of care.
The question that remains is this. Will we recognise the signs before it is too late? Will we have the courage to challenge the forces that seek to consume us? Or will we continue to repeat the same mistakes we say we never will?
The fight against Weitko begins with each of us. This is non-partisan, it is a call to humanity whether your ideology is left, right or centrist. The call to arms for brave leadership is for all.
Footnotes & Further Reading
Paul Levy, Dispelling Wetiko: Breaking the Curse of Evil, North Atlantic Books, 2013.
Jack D. Forbes, Columbus and Other Cannibals: The Wetiko Disease of Exploitation, Imperialism, and Terrorism, Seven Stories Press, 2008.
Robin Wall Kimmerer, Braiding Sweetgrass: Indigenous Wisdom, Scientific Knowledge, and the Teachings of Plants, Milkweed Editions, 2013.
Eduardo Galeano, Open Veins of Latin America: Five Centuries of the Pillage of a Continent, Monthly Review Press, 1997.
Charles Eisenstein, Sacred Economics: Money, Gift, and Society in the Age of Transition, North Atlantic Books, 2011.
Video: "Paul Levy on Wetiko: The Mind Virus That Plagues Our World" (YouTube Interview).
