How Artists and Makers Are Shaping New Kinds of Leadership
WINNIPEG, MANITOBA — The way we think about leadership is shifting. It’s not just about about authority, titles, or control anymore—it’s about something more fluid, more rooted in the messy, beautiful unpredictability of creativity. In a world that’s less personal and more divided than ever, the people we turn to for guidance often don’t fit the traditional mold. Artists, young visionaries, volunteers, and elders are stepping up—not from the front, but from the edges of society, offering a leadership built on imagination, collaboration, and empathy.
Creative leadership isn’t about commanding from the top—it’s about opening up space for others to shine. It’s about creating environments where everyone has the freedom to express their own ideas, where the answers don’t come from a single person but from the collective wisdom of a group. That’s why many of our programs focus on non-hierarchical approaches to leadership. At its core, this new leadership asks us to be flexible, to inspire those around us to think bigger, and to be brave enough to break away from outdated ways of thinking. It’s driven by imagination—the ability to dream of new possibilities and shape them into something real. Collaboration is a heartbeat, where each voice, no matter how small, contributes to a shared vision. And empathy? It’s the thread that weaves it all together, building trust, making connections, and creating a space where everyone feels seen and valued.
This kind of leadership doesn’t always come from the usual places. Many of the youth we work with have a pulse on the future, their fingers on the latest trends. Elders carry the wisdom of the past, offering the perspective that can often get lost in today’s fast-paced world. Artists see the world in ways others don’t, offering creative solutions to problems that can seem insurmountable. Volunteers, too, are quietly leading, driven by deep care for their communities, often working without recognition, but with a powerful impact. These “leaders from the edge” aren’t bound by traditional structures—they’re carving out new paths, offering ideas that might seem radical, but are often just what’s needed to move us forward.
They lead by example, not with authority, but with an openness to change, to challenge, and to listen. They embody a kind of adaptive leadership—able to navigate complex systems with agility, constantly shifting in response to what’s needed. And they do this with an unwavering focus on the community—making sure that solutions aren’t just solutions in theory, but ones that resonate, that matter, and that stick.
This is leadership that isn’t about knowing it all—it’s about guiding others to their own answers. It’s about walking alongside, not standing above. It’s the kind of leadership we need now, more than ever.