Kathaleen McCormick

How valuable is Elon Musk’s ‘charismatic’ leadership? That’s the 56 billion dollar question

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, February 6, 2024

Maybe the Tesla directors who agreed to pay Elon Musk US$56 billion were just feeling generous.

Key Points: 
  • Maybe the Tesla directors who agreed to pay Elon Musk US$56 billion were just feeling generous.
  • Or maybe, as the judge who cancelled this “unfathomable” deal suggested, they really were “starry eyed” and swayed by Musk’s “superstar appeal”.
  • Certainly Musk – and his style of leadership – seems to be constantly in the spotlight.
  • My research suggests that charismatic leadership seems to be enjoying a renaissance, having fallen out of fashion over the past two decades.

The return of charisma?

  • The CEOs of the most famous global companies ten years ago, such as ExxonMobil and Walmart, were not household names.
  • But today, the bosses of corporations such as Meta, Amazon and Tesla are world famous.
  • The search for Khurana’s “saviour” figures seems to offer a simple escape route from worries over climate change, war and economic turbulence.


Furthermore, in a world increasingly reliant on algorithms, business has become somewhat dehumanised. People may be yearning for leadership with a (super)human face.

A more crowded stage

  • If the charismatic leader is making a comeback, it is a comeback on a more crowded stage.
  • They may be popular in certain circles, but so too is the leader as a champion of diversity, or ethics, or human relationships.
  • So, perhaps the big question is how we can best moderate the enormous concentration of power accumulated by some charismatic leaders.


Sverre Spoelstra does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment.

George Santos Calls Out Chancery Court for Hiding from the Camera and Financial Disclosures

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, December 14, 2023

Key Points: 
  • View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20231214471588/en/
    Citizens for Judicial Fairness plans to feature the video in a digital advertising campaign to continue shining a light on Chancery Court corruption and chicanery.
  • It’s supposed to be the corporate capital of the world, but simply put: Delaware’s justice system is broken.
  • Governor Carney built an all-white Chancery Court led by Kathaleen McCormick that oversees the biggest corporations in the world.
  • The court doesn’t even require judges to submit financial disclosures, and they don’t even allow cameras in the courtrooms.

Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware Launches Mobile Billboard to Expose Racial Inequality in the Chancery Court

Retrieved on: 
Friday, February 26, 2021

With Chancery Court Chancellor Andre Bouchards retirement effective April 30th, the good government group is pleading with Governor John Carney to appoint a Black justice to the states Chancery Court.

Key Points: 
  • With Chancery Court Chancellor Andre Bouchards retirement effective April 30th, the good government group is pleading with Governor John Carney to appoint a Black justice to the states Chancery Court.
  • CPBD has already mobilized 750 Delaware residents to send emails to Governor Carney insisting on the appointment of a Black justice.
  • For far too long, the Chancery Court has failed to reflect the diversity of those it claims to serve, said Chris Coffey, Campaign Manager for Citizens for a Pro-Business Delaware.
  • While their primary goal of saving the company has been accomplished, they continue their efforts to fight for more transparency in the Delaware Chancery Court.