Insurgent leadership
While the incumbent establishment fears and resists change, the insurgent embraces change, because change means opportunity.
By Scott Miller, CEO, Core Strategy Group, USA
To know is to change. To know more is to change more. To know instantly and everywhere is to change fundamentally. The digital information revolution, has created the turbulent change environment in which we all live and work globally. In this situation traditional forms of power are turned on their head; incumbents, who have depended on size, scope and tradition for power, are at a disadvantage to insurgents, who depend on speed, mobility and imagination.
Today, as never before in history, underdogs hold the cards. Insurgent candidates disrupt global politics; insurgent brands disrupt global markets; and insurgent tactics have been adopted by even the most powerful military forces.
Insurgent leadership is change-leadership. While the incumbent establishment fears and resists change, the insurgent embraces change, because change means opportunity. It is no surprise that our Tallberg Leaders are revolutionaries in own fields of interest. They are true insurgents and change-leaders. They have thrived in this new environment. and made impressive progress against the most stubborn challenges and most resistant establishment conventions and institutions.
The core meaning of the Tallberg Foundation is to start, encourage and extend the most interesting and important conversation in the world. Our Tallberg Leaders are an essential part of that conversation.
Nominate a Global Leader April 1— May 31 here: www.tallbergfoundation.org/nominate
Scott Miller is the CEO of Core Strategy Group in the US. He was a member of the jury for the Tällberg Foundation Global Leadership Prize in 2016.
After graduating from Washington & Lee University, and a five-minute shot at the AFL, Scott Miller worked in advertising as Creative Director of McCann-Erickson, then founded Sawyer/Miller Group with David Sawyer. This strategic consulting group developed communications strategy for many political campaigns, corporations and institutions. Among Sawyer/Miller Group’s clients: Corazon Aquino, Vaclav Havel, Coca-Cola, Microsoft, Miller Brewing, Boris Yeltsin, Drexel Burnham Lambert, Kim Dae Jung, Goldman-Sachs, Apple Computer, Virgilio Barco, USA for Africa/Hands Across America, Lech Walesa and The Better World Foundation. Sawyer/Miller also advised over 40 U.S. candidates for Governor or Senator and several Presidential campaigns.
In 2012 Scott founded RealLeader.com with Pat Caddell and Bob Perkins, and in 2013 with First Lady Michelle Obama’s “Partnership for a Healthier America” initiative. During the 2014 elections, he founded “WeNeedSmith.com” and “A Promise to America” with Pat Caddell and Bob Perkins.
He wrote Building Brandwidth with Sergio Zyman, The Underdog Advantage with David Morey and One More Customer with Fran Tarkenton. Former Editor of the Times of London James Harding’s book Alpha Dogs is based on Miller’s work in politics. Scott is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations.
