The 24% leadership advantage no one talks about
Oct. 16, 2025
In this piece, Otto Sonnenholzner, former Vice-President of Ecuador, and Eva McLellan, Country President and General Manager at Roche Slovenia, reflect on their leadership experiences during moments of national and organizational turbulence. Drawing on these lessons, they outline what they call “integrated leadership on the edge” – a framework for navigating complexity and division. Combining two contrasting styles of leadership can achieve what they have identified as a 24% increase in effectiveness.
… Balancing these two forces may seem paradoxical, but it is a learnable leadership practice, and it proves to be highly effective. Research by Unlocking Eve, in collaboration with the Leadership Circle, spanning 20,000 leaders across 69 countries, reveals that those who integrate both autonomous strength and relational capacities demonstrate 24% higher leadership effectiveness.