In this episode of Leadership with Ed (LED), Ed sits down with Mark Horwitch of Bain & Company to explore what truly makes leaders inspirational—and why authenticity matters more than imitation. Together, they discuss how the world’s most impactful leaders didn’t succeed by copying others, but by leaning into who they genuinely are. Mark explains why there are countless ways to inspire people, and why personal growth begins with self-awareness rather than comparison.

The conversation challenges the idea of a single “right” leadership style and encourages leaders to discover and develop their own strengths. This episode is a powerful reminder that leadership isn’t about fitting a mold—it’s about showing up with clarity, integrity, and confidence in your unique voice. Takeaways There are thousands of unique inspirational profiles. No two inspirational figures are the same. The permutations of inspiration are vast and varied. Everyone has the potential to inspire others.

Authenticity is key to being inspirational. Finding your true self is essential for personal growth. Inspiration comes from within, not from imitation. The diversity of inspiration reflects individual uniqueness. Understanding one's authentic self enhances inspirational capacity. Personal growth is a journey of self-discovery.

LINK TO VISUALS! https://drive.google.com/file/d/1lpO6Dek58dukL6NJ0XguvusBsN7lWhXJ/view?usp=sharing

00:00 – Introduction

02:30 – Mark Horwitch’s Background and Leadership Journey

03:30 – The Leadership Tool Mark Developed

05:00 – The Epiphany That Changed His Thinking

07:30 – What Bain & Company Actually Does

12:10 – What “Inspiration” Really Means

12:30 – Why Inspiration Is Personal (The Mother Teresa Example)

15:45 – The Archetypes of Inspiration

17:10 – How to Measure Whether Someone Is Inspired

18:15 – The Real Output of Inspiration

21:30 – From 76 to 33: Narrowing Leadership Strengths

24:45 – The Power of Distinguishing (“Spiky”) Strengths

25:50 – What a “Spike” Actually Is 27:32 – The Rock Pile Framework Explained

28:24 – Ed’s Results From the Leadership Survey

29:00 – How to Use the Data Effectively

29:55 – What If You Don’t Have Clear Strengths Yet?

32:03 – Visionary Thinking and Optimism

34:15 – Why Everyone Has the Ability to Inspire

36:40 – The First Step Toward Becoming Inspirational

38:12 – How to Get Others to Notice Your Leadership

40:15 – The Two Leadership Tracks They Teach

41:15 – “Take 5”: A Practical Leadership Exercise

46:00 – The Rock Pile Framework (Part Two)

48:17 – Learning How to Get Better Over Time

52:05 – The Power of Growing Within a Group

55:55 – What the Best Leaders Do Differently