What does responsibility mean for leaders? | TEDxAfricanLeadershipAcademy

This talk explores the complexity of leadership, responsibility, and moral courage. The speaker begins with abstract questions, using The Ones Who Walk Away from Omelas as a metaphor for ethical dilemmas in leadership. They reflect on their youthful idealism and how real-world leadership forces difficult compromises. Drawing from personal experiences as a dean, they highlight the tension between doing the “right” thing and making painful decisions that tarnish one’s conscience. The talk contrasts the purity of moral certitude with the messier, grayer courage required for real leadership—one that demands sacrifice, compromise, and, ultimately, the willingness to break one’s own heart. Hatim Eltayeb is the CEO of the African Leadership Academy (ALA). Previously, he served as Dean (2016–2022), shaping the Diploma Program and representing ALA globally. He first joined ALA in 2009 as a Teaching Fellow before co-founding Symposium, an education consulting firm in Cairo. Hatim holds degrees from Harvard and Columbia and became ALA’s CEO in 2022. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx