This month sees the launch event of a new book about navigating the pitfalls of modern leadership. Co-authored by two coaching alumni; naturally, we wanted to learn more!

“In a world filled with complexity and chaos, leadership is not about having all the answers. It’s about asking the right questions, staying open to change, and working together to craft solutions that benefit both people and the planet.”

Leading in a Wicked World is a book built on the idea that traditional leadership models are no longer sufficient for the world we live in. It explores how leaders can cultivate adaptive, ethical leadership to navigate these profound challenges and push us toward a sustainable future. The inspiration behind Leading in a Wicked World comes from the urgent need to address the “wicked problems” our planet faces—climate change, inequality, and the breakdown of trust in institutions, to name a few.

‘Our story started at Hult Ashridge in March 2020—the last year of our Executive Coaching Master’s. Over the years, we kept in touch. Every other week, we spoke on Zoom about how Covid-19 was affecting our lives and our work. We spoke about the “wicked world” we live in. How leaders in our organizations were dealing with it, and the mental health and supply chain issues we saw people navigating. We spoke about our dreams. Our ambition to create a good place for our children. We started writing our stories down, as we believed there might be something interesting in them that we could share.

In February this year, Matthias and Sonja saw each other for only the second time. And in April, they published their book. Within a couple of months, it was on the bestseller list for Dutch online book store Managementboek.nl, a testament to the international currency of this english language book.

Readers can expect insights into how you can lead in a way that embraces uncertainty. Build resilience and foster collaboration across sectors and communities. You’ll be invited to follow the path of the white rabbit, which turns out to be your own path. A story filled with references from known and unknown scientists and questions for you to follow your inner compass.

The book is already gaining traction and generating great conversations. It’s being launched at a networking event in The Netherlands on November 21 – you can register to attend here.