What are the pre-requisites to strong leadership? Ask that question, and the answers you are likely to receive will paint a revealing picture of the world we live in: single-minded vision; determination to the point of stubbornness; ruthlessness. These stereotypes of leadership are recycled endlessly, and celebrated frequently, and yet they leave so much out of the picture. At least according to the GSMA’s Lara Dewar.

And she should know. In a dazzling career spent across an array of wildly different sectors – from finance to energy, charities to telecoms – Lara Dewar has worked alongside a wide spectrum of leaders, each with their own style and ethos. Looking back now, she can see that the ones who were most successful shared one trait: a generosity of spirit that allowed them to recognise the potential in those around them, including her. She credits that generosity with empowering her to move freely between these different worlds, and ultimately find her own voice as a leader.

As the GSMA’s Chief Marketing Officer, Lara has made a point of continuing that legacy of kindness. In this refreshingly frank conversation, she speaks openly about addressing the institutional challenges that ambitious women have long accepted as inevitable, and the ways in which a more generous style of leadership can level the playing field and create the kind of culture that our children will be happy to inherit. 

Rewire is a Cup & Nuzzle production for the GSMA

Series Producers: Abby Hollick & Frank Palmer

Producer: Louise Sinnerton

Executive Producers: Graham Hodge & Matt Everitt

Production Manager: Maxim Taylor

GSMA:

Head of Brand & Content Strategy: Julie Mahoney

Global Creative Director: Andy Robinson 

Project Manager: Osaze Obazuaye 

Senior Video Creative: Christopher Waggott 

Copywriter: Rachel Holmes