How many seconds need to be left before we decide we MUST change the way leaders lead? | LinkedIn

How many seconds need to be left before we decide we MUST change the way leaders lead? | LinkedIn
2020-04-05, 12:23 PM
How many seconds need to be left
before we decide we MUST change
the way leaders lead?
Published on February 13, 2020
Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
We Have A Plan For That.
3 Key Data Points:
We live in VERY dangerous times.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-many-seconds-need-left-before-we-decide-must-change-bob-westrope/
Page 1 of 7

How many seconds need to be left before we decide we MUST change the way leaders lead? | LinkedIn
2020-04-05, 12:23 PM
The ‘Doomsday Clock’ has just been set to its lowest level since the
inception of the clock in 1947 - 100 seconds to midnight – citing nuclear
proliferation, climate change and disinformation as each an existential issue.
Per the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists
Democracy’s response is to backslide.
The number of liberal democracies has declined from 44 in 2008 to 39 in in
2018. Indeed, one-third of the world’s population now lives in a country
undergoing a ‘third wave’ of autocratization – surging from 415 million in
2016 to 2.3 billion people in 2018. The USA is one of those countries.
Per the University of Gothenburg’s landmark V-Dem Annual
Democracy Report 2019, measuring 27 million data points for 202
countries from 1789 to 2018, involving over 3,000 scholars and subject
matter experts.
Leadership is THE issue
Trust in leaders and institutions is eroding, with a widening gap between
“the informed public” and the “general population” – the “highest ever trust
inequality” recorded. The general population of Canada is second only to
the UK in its distrust of NGO, Business, Government & Media leadership,
with only 34% of the general population believing they will be better off in
five years.
Per the 2019 Edelman Trust Barometer.
Three Key Messages:
We need to change the way leaders lead – systemically
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-many-seconds-need-left-before-we-decide-must-change-bob-westrope/
Page 2 of 7

How many seconds need to be left before we decide we MUST change the way leaders lead? | LinkedIn
2020-04-05, 12:23 PM
and globally - by 2030
If we are indeed running out of time, and the challenge is systemic and
global, we can’t count on existing actors to devise the countless solutions
required to address the many existential challenges we face in time.
The response must be a purposeful undertaking, not unlike the Manhattan
Project and its role in the existential fight against fascism.
We have devised and tested an audacious solution. We are ready.
15,000+ volunteer hours and over $300,000 member contributions
650+ members from 35+ countries
The nucleus of a community connected, empowered and mobilized to
purposefully prepare a new cohort of leaders
A community that does not start with an ‘answer’ but is the one that
will devise, incubate and execute the great many solutions needed to
assure a world defined by our vision, mission, charter and core values -
our Tenets
Our Moonshot objective is to elevate one million LEx members into
positions of influence, power and impact by 2030: from the classroom,
to the boardroom, to the legislature.
We now need the funding to scale – or all of our work will
be lost.
We have had to suspend ALL operations due to a funding shortfall
We are looking to secure US$10 million from one or more wealthy
benefactors with whom our Tenets resonate – to catalyze a funding
network of their peers
But this will take time
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-many-seconds-need-left-before-we-decide-must-change-bob-westrope/
Page 3 of 7

How many seconds need to be left before we decide we MUST change the way leaders lead? | LinkedIn
2020-04-05, 12:23 PM
In the meanwhile we are looking for the support of a patron or patrons
who can provide the funds to keep our movement alive with an
aggregate contribution of $250,000
In support of this effort, a petition has been started on Change.org
With over 3,000 signatories from over 30 countries, the petition targets
100 of the prospective influencers and benefactors that can make LEx
a reality
Questions & Answers:
What?
We have designed and tested the nucleus of a purpose-built, diverse
community of accomplished persons united by shared values that will be
empowered by the support of their peers and then charged with the
responsibility to change the way leaders lead in their communities and the
sectors they work in.
Why?
We believe that there is a leadership insufficiency that is systemic, global
and existential. We are nearing a pivot point in human history where a great
many existential issues need to be addressed simultaneously and on a
global scale – from climate change and income inequality to nuclear
proliferation (to name just a few).
Failure to address this insufficiency is not an option if humanity is to be free
to thrive in an Age of Abundance.
Otherwise, the backsliding of liberal democracy will become irreversible.
NO other organization/actor is addressing this challenge as Bill Gates has
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-many-seconds-need-left-before-we-decide-must-change-bob-westrope/
Page 4 of 7

How many seconds need to be left before we decide we MUST change the way leaders lead? | LinkedIn
2020-04-05, 12:23 PM
done with malaria or polio eradication – that is purposefully and not
constrained by financial resource.
How?
Rather than start with a fixed answer on what leadership is – we believe it
imperative that we create a dynamic, adaptive Tenets-based
process/structure – the scaffolding - from which thousands of solutions are
conceived, tested, incubated and then adopted that are relevant to where
people live and work.
Our first priority is peer support, where each member is as committed to
the success and elevation of their peers, as they are to her/they/him.
Thus empowered we provide them the impact tools to both grow the
community and effect impactful change consistent with the Tenets.
LEx LocalCircles – self forming peer support groups of 12 people
committed to changing leadership narratives, cultures and practices in
their communities through Projects
LEx GlobalCircles – 15 online communities of unlimited size
committed to change leadership narratives, cultures and practices in
their sectors through Missions
Where?
In this hyper-connected world, the challenge is systemic – from classrooms,
to boardrooms, to legislatures – and it is global – from Canada to China. It’s
not possible to focus on one geography or one sector.
But, according to the Edelman study noted above, the ‘Canada’ brand is
one of the most trusted in the world – it is our hope that Leaders Expedition
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-many-seconds-need-left-before-we-decide-must-change-bob-westrope/
Page 5 of 7

How many seconds need to be left before we decide we MUST change the way leaders lead? | LinkedIn
2020-04-05, 12:23 PM
can remain a Canadian-headquartered initiative.
When?
Now – time is of the essence. It’s taken mankind thousands of years to bring
us to where we are. If we are to materially start to impact real leadership
change in just 10 years – that is revolutionary.
We don’t have a choice.
Who?
If our Tenets resonate, and you believe in the world that they describe, then
you should sign our petition and become a member, and if you have the
means, be a financial supporter of Leaders Expedition.
We seek the greatest diversity of our communities and professions – those
who understand that extremes of ideology on all sides close conversations
rather than open them.
For more information, please contact Bob Westrope, Executive Director
of Leaders Expedition (LEx) bob.westrope@leadersx.org, +1 416 627-
7660.
Resources:
Case for Funding (online PDF)
Case for Funding (23 minute video)
Ours To Make A Better World (90 second promo video)
Petition in Support of Leaders Expedition (LEx) (website)
LEx HUB (online PDF)
LEx LocalCircles (online PDF)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-many-seconds-need-left-before-we-decide-must-change-bob-westrope/
Page 6 of 7

How many seconds need to be left before we decide we MUST change the way leaders lead? | LinkedIn
2020-04-05, 12:23 PM
LEx GlobalCircles (online PDF)
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/how-many-seconds-need-left-before-we-decide-must-change-bob-westrope/
Page 7 of 7