Leadership Conference Set to Tackle Trust and Virtue Amid U.S. Presidential Election Drama

As the world watches the U.S. presidential election unfold, the International Leadership Association (ILA) annual conference in Chicago promises to be a hotspot for critical discussions about the future of leadership. This year’s conference, coinciding with a pivotal moment in U.S. politics, will gather prominent leadership scholars and practitioners from across the globe to examine what makes effective and virtuous leadership.

Dr. Steven P.M. de Waal, chairman of the Public Space Foundation and noted author, will be one of the keynote contributors. He is set to address three pivotal topics that resonate deeply with current global challenges in leadership:

1. Civil Leadership in the Age of Disruptive Technology
   De Waal will present insights from his book, Civil Leadership as the Future of Leadership (Amazon, 2018), which delves into how new ICT and media technologies have disrupted traditional power dynamics. He argues that these changes have amplified the direct power of citizens, transforming how leadership must respond to public opinion and engagement. With citizens now commanding influence through social media and grassroots movements, public leadership needs to evolve to meet these new demands.
2. Virtuous Leadership: Beyond Morality
   As chair of a roundtable on ‘Virtuous Leadership,’ De Waal will lead discussions on the dual meanings of “good leadership”. Should a leader focus on moral virtue, or is delivering tangible results the mark of excellence? As public expectations shift, so does the challenge of balancing these two aspects of leadership. This debate gains relevance in a time when rhetoric alone may no longer suffice, as actions and outcomes are under greater scrutiny. For more about this topic download De Waal’s proposal for this roundtable and the description in the ILA programme.
3. Trust & Leadership in Crisis
   A timely new initiative, De Waal will also oversee the foundation of a new ILA member community on Trust & Leadership, co-founded with Ted Baartmans. This initiative highlights the erosion of trust in leaders across sectors – political, corporate, and civil society – and seeks to address how trust can be rebuilt in today’s polarized and complex world.

With the added backdrop of the U.S. election, where the leadership styles of Donald Trump and Kamala Harris are center stage, this year’s ILA conference is sure to foster significant debate about the future of leadership. The insights drawn here are expected to shape both public discourse and practical applications in leadership for years to come.

Dr. de Waal’s participation brings a distinctly international perspective, making the ILA conference a must-watch event for anyone invested in the evolution of leadership in the digital age.