#043 We Need New Leaders | Charlotte Otter
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Reputation, Authenticity, and a Radical Redesign of Leadership.
This is the first episode of a brand-new season of On Change. In this series about Powerful Women, we celebrate trail-blazing and visionary women who have shattered glass ceilings, defied expectations and have chosen to lead on their own terms.
In this episode, Petro du Pisani speaks with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders, a book about what leadership should look like in a world that’s hungry for authenticity, clarity, and connection.
Charlotte Otter is a speaker, leadership coach, and former journalist. She has over twenty years of experience in leading executive communications especially in global tech and industrial firms. She shares her personal journey from aspiring writer to corporate communicator to author, and how growing up in apartheid South Africa shaped her passion for better leadership.
Drawing on her MSc in Change Leadership (HEC Paris, Oxford Saïd), for which she interviewed 40 diverse leaders, she challenges the traditional archetype of leadership and advocates for a radical redesign of leadership rooted in empathy, credibility, and inclusivity.
“By showing up for yourself, owning your reputation, keeping a stellar record of success, and doing the effective telling - you’re showing the next generation how to lead. In fact, by doing that, you’re building the system. It’s extremely important work.” – Charlotte Otter
This is the first episode of a brand-new season of On Change. In this series about Powerful Women, we celebrate trail-blazing and visionary women who have shattered glass ceilings, defied expectations and have chosen to lead on their own terms.
In this episode, Petro du Pisani speaks with Charlotte Otter, author of We Need New Leaders, a book about what leadership should look like in a world that’s hungry for authenticity, clarity, and connection.
Charlotte Otter is a speaker, leadership coach, and former journalist. She has over twenty years of experience in leading executive communications especially in global tech and industrial firms. She shares her personal journey from aspiring writer to corporate communicator to author, and how growing up in apartheid South Africa shaped her passion for better leadership.
Drawing on her MSc in Change Leadership (HEC Paris, Oxford Saïd), for which she interviewed 40 diverse leaders, she challenges the traditional archetype of leadership and advocates for a radical redesign of leadership rooted in empathy, credibility, and inclusivity.
“By showing up for yourself, owning your reputation, keeping a stellar record of success, and doing the effective telling - you’re showing the next generation how to lead. In fact, by doing that, you’re building the system. It’s extremely important work.” – Charlotte Otter
Chapters
- 00:02 Introduction to On Change series focusing on women leaders
- 01:17 Charlotte's personal journey and career path
- 03:13 The inspiration behind We Need New Leaders
- 06:03 Women's experiences in corporate leadership
- 09:15 The three Cs of effective leadership: clear, credible, and connected
- 11:10 Reputation as a powerful leadership tool
- 13:25 Overcoming the authority gap for women
- 16:53 Insights from interviewing diverse leaders
- 18:06 Leading with integrity during pressure and crisis
- 20:03 Common traits among authentic leaders
- 22:43 Redesigning leadership education
- 26:17 Hope for the next generation of leaders
- 29:35 Final thoughts on building leadership systems
