Recently, I had the honor of hearing HBS Professor Ranjay Gulati speak about his new book, How to Be Bold: Courage in Times of Change. If you are looking to be inspired - add it to your must read list!

I joined today because, like many of us, I’ve been feeling unsettled by the speed of change — in geopolitics, technology, and the global order itself. The world as we know it is changing ever faster, and what’s ahead feels increasingly unclear to most. This year, CEOs have used the word uncertainty three times more than ever before!

Mitigating known risks is science — but planning for unknown outcomes can feel impossible. And it’s scary. But as Dr. Gulati reminded, “Just because you are scared does not mean you do nothing.”

As business and community leaders, we must summon our courage — and help those around us do the same. It doesn’t mean we are fearless; it means we make a conscious choice to act despite fear. Winston Churchill once said, “Fear is a reaction. Courage is a decision.”

Courage, however, is not recklessness. Jumping into the unknown without thought is unforgivable for a leader. Yet waiting on the sidelines, hoping for clarity, often leads to stagnation — or decline.

True courage is taking disciplined, thoughtful steps into the unknown. Small, deliberate actions that move us — and those we lead — forward, one decision at a time.

Thank you, Professor Gulati, for reminding us that courage is a skill we can practice — not just a trait we inherit.