Purpose – Against the background of current leadership theory, this research paper
analyses and compares the leadership approaches of two outstanding leaders:
Daniel Vasella, chairman of the leading Swiss pharmaceutical organization Novartis
and Ricardo Semler, owner of the Brazilian conglomerate Semco. In contrast to
many rather abstract, unpractical and pointlessly theoretical papers on leadership
this analysis provides a more applied view of leadership by means of the life history
approach delivering insight into both leaders’ development and leader personality.

Methodology/approach – First, this paper locates the ideas and practices associated
with the term “leadership” as a concept through theories that have developed over
time and shows how the practices of leading can be derived and understood through
chosen theories. Based on this, the specific characteristics and career paths of both
leaders are presented and compared so that a final analysis of their leadership
approach can be done.

The paper is based on secondary sources such as peer-reviewed business journals
and literature on leadership. Information about both leaders and their approach
to leadership is gathered mainly from published interviews with them. Additional
information on Semler is taken from his autobiography.

Conclusions – It is difficult to identify an “essence” of leadership, whether that takes
the form of personality characteristics or traits, charisma, the ability to transform
people or organizations or a brain function. All presented theories of leadership seem
to have their raison d’être. Both Vasella and Semler apply a combination of different
attitudes and behaviours that characterize their leadership style containing elements
of transformational, charismatic, ethical, servant and authentic leadership.