An Enter the Boardroom “Wrapped” Insight — drawn from conversations with world-class Chairs, NEDs, CEOs and governance leaders

Across more than a hundred board leaders in 2025, one pattern stood out: great directors carry mental models with them, often in the form of quotes.

Some of these quotes are philosophical. Some are humorous. Some are grounding reminders in moments of tension. Others are discipline-setters, nudging directors toward humility, curiosity or courage at precisely the moment they need it most.

And while styles varied, from Ernest Hemingway to Yoruba proverbs to Ted Lasso, the quotes directors reached for most often revealed something deeper about how they think, how they judge, and how they show up in the boardroom.

Here are the 10 favourite quotes that shaped leadership in 2025, drawn directly from Enter the Boardroom guest conversations.

“A leader is a dealer in hope.” Attributed to Napoleon; cited by Thomas Thune Andersen

A reminder that leadership is emotional labour, about expanding possibility, not just managing complexity.

“Truth alone never wins. Truth supported wins.” Professor Randall Peterson

A profound insight into influence: facts matter, but coalition-building matters more.

“We are what we pretend to be, so we must be careful what we pretend to be.” — Kurt Vonnegut; cited by Professor Alison Taylor

A reflection on culture, ethics and reputation - the heart of modern governance.

“A man is never lost at sea.” — Hemingway; cited by Steve Rigby

A stoic reminder of resilience and calm under pressure.

“It is your choices that decide who you are rather than your abilities.” — Ted Lasso; cited by Ali Parsa

A modern statement of agency, morale and character, embraced by entrepreneurial leaders.

“Dare to be naive.” Buckminster Fuller; cited by Amy Edmondson

A mandate for curiosity and bold, unprotected thinking — crucial in innovation-driven sectors.

“When all men think alike, no one thinks very much.” Walter Lippmann; cited by Malcolm John

A favourite among directors advocating for diversity, dissent and intellectual challenge.

“Training is expensive — try ignorance.” — cited by Gerry Brown

A wry but serious reminder of the cost of underinvestment in capability.

“Plans are useless, planning is indispensable.” — Eisenhower; cited by Gerry Murphy

A strategic truth echoed in multiple episodes: adaptability beats rigidity.

“Control your own destiny, or someone else will.” — Jack Welch; cited by Christian Unger

A strategic mindset for boards operating in competitive or disrupted markets.

“Leadership is an argument with tradition.” — paraphrased from Dr Tomás Chamorro-Premuzic

A framing that resonated with board members committed to transformation and innovation.

What These Quotes Reveal About Modern Board Leadership

1. Directors draw heavily on principles, not platitudes.

Every quote above reflects a decision-making philosophy about courage, clarity, ethics or resilience.

2. The best leaders source wisdom from everywhere.

Guests cited philosophers, scientists, prime ministers, parents, proverbs and football coaches. Great judgment is eclectic.

3. The modern boardroom values character as much as competence.

Quotes about curiosity, humility, effort and listening were more common than those about strategy or power.

4. Directors use quotes as grounding tools to reset themselves and their boards.

Many guests described leaning on these lines during moments of tension or uncertainty.