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THE QUESTION
Who Was the Best Leader of 2008?
Aside from Barack Obama (Time magazine already named him Person of the Year), and thinking broadly across all sectors of life, who would you name as the year's best leader and why?
Posted by Ben Bradlee and Steve Pearlstein on December 29, 2008 5:51 PM
FROM THE PANEL
Michael Bloomberg
He represents the best of leadership in the modern era, demonstrating how business, government and philanthropy can reinforce one another.
Posted by Roger Martin, on January 5, 2009 11:37 AM
George W. Bush -- Not
We can only hope he won't write a book about leadership in his retirement.
Posted by Abraham Zaleznik, on January 2, 2009 8:09 AM
The Parents Circle-Family Forum
Leadership not always the work of a single individual, and the Parents Circle-Family Forum, which brings together bereaved Palestinians and Israelis, has provided hope where there was none before.
Posted by Kathy Kretman, on January 2, 2009 7:59 AM
Vote for the Best Leader of 2008
Our panelists (and commenters) have made their nominations, now it's your turn to vote.
Posted by Ben Bradlee and Steve Pearlstein, on December 31, 2008 12:08 PM
Abraham Lincoln
In 2008, everyone from President-elect Obama to my wife's ten-year-old nephew was talking about Abraham Lincoln's leadership. Why? Because he still calls us to aspire.
Posted by Ed Ruggero, on December 31, 2008 11:32 AM
No one
Let's face it: 2008 was a year of utter leader-less-ness. Who in the private sector or public sector saw the economy unraveling and rallied the nation? No one.
Posted by Alan M. Webber, on December 31, 2008 10:19 AM
The Quiet Leaders
While celebrating great public figures like President-Elect Obama and General Petraeus, we should recognize that some of the best leaders toil in obscurity and would be embarrassed by our praise.
Posted by George Reed, on December 30, 2008 4:03 PM
Defense Sec. Bob Gates
He deftly maneuvered through bureaucratic challenges, while avoiding the mistake many new CEOs make: trying to completely overhaul their institutions all at once.
Posted by Gen. Monty Meigs (Ret.), on December 30, 2008 3:48 PM
Father Richard Frechette
Perhaps the best leaders of 2008 have avoided self-advertisement, and one of these is a priest-physician who leads by example in caring for Haiti's poor.
Posted by Michael Maccoby, on December 30, 2008 11:22 AM
Tampa Bay Rays Manager Joe Maddon
Maddon brought his team out their 2007 basement to win the 2008 World Series, all while keeping costs low and demonstrating candor, taste and plain common sense.
Posted by Warren Bennis, on December 30, 2008 10:29 AM
Walmart CEO Lee Scott
At a time when short-term thinkers led the U.S. to the brink of disaster, Scott increased market share for Walmart while working through tough human-resource issues and grooming a capable successor.
Posted by Bill George, on December 30, 2008 10:21 AM
Penn State Coach Joe Paterno
After nearly six decades of coaching, Paterno has produced outstanding football teams for longer than many other leaders have been alive.
Posted by Jeffrey Pfeffer, on December 30, 2008 10:11 AM
Gen. David Petraeus, with runners-up
General David Petraeus has brilliantly redefined the war-on-terrorism strategy to mean engagement with the Muslim world. Runners-up are: Australian PM Kevin Rudd, British PM Gordon Brown and Bill Richardson.
Posted by Marty Linsky, on December 30, 2008 10:03 AM
Columnist Tom Friedman
Rather than responding to issues in a canned 'liberal' or 'conservative' voice, he actually thinks!
Posted by Marshall Goldsmith, on December 30, 2008 9:58 AM
Gen. David Petraeus
He articulated a clear vision, built a team, inspired subordinates and colleagues, implemented a coherent plan, and produced notable results that could lead to a better Middle East.
Posted by Walter F. Ulmer, Jr., on December 29, 2008 5:54 PM
FEATURED COMMENTS
ronstrauss: Perhaps some parts of the country don't know about the story of the Atlanta Falcons NFL football team. Last year, it lost its quarterback, i...
dfortin: Mayor Michael Nutter of Philadelphia. He's in many ways a microcosm of Obama--an African American politician (accused in the campaign as no...
joyousMinn: I second the nomination of Paul Krugman. While Thomas Friedman was busy blessing the Bush administrations every move, Krugman was proven rig...
