Common Purpose

80 senior nonprofit leaders. 12 countries. One shared purpose: to lead with authenticity, resilience and impact.

The 2025 American Express Leadership Academy is underway, creating space for reflection, connection and growth among extraordinary leaders from across the Americas.

Delivered in partnership with American Express, with thanks to Hilton, Delta Air Lines, and the NBA Foundation for their support.

You can’t lead people who don’t want to be led. And that’s not a failure—it’s reality.

Leadership isn’t about convincing everyone to follow you. It’s about finding and empowering the people who are ready to walk with you.

In our latest blog, we explore why chasing holdouts drains your energy and weakens your impact—and how the best leaders build momentum by focusing on those who believe in their vision.

Featuring lessons from Satya Nadella and Greta Thunberg, we look at:

- Why not everyone will get on board (and why that’s okay)

- How to spot and nurture your willing followers

- Why clarity of vision attracts the right people

- How to stop chasing approval and start leading with purpose

Leadership isn’t about being liked by everyone. It’s about creating real change with the right people by your side. Read the full blog post 👇

https://commonpurpose.org/resources/blog/you-cant-lead-people-who-dont-want-to-be-led