The Leadership Lab by Chris Lewis Summary

The Leadership Lab examines 21st-century leadership challenges like geopolitical shifts, AI adoption, and economic instability. Co-authored by Chris Lewis and Dr. Pippa Malmgren, it provides strategies for building empathetic, adaptable leadership in a disrupted world, using interviews with top executives and analysis of global megatrends.

Aspiring leaders, C-suite executives, and managers navigating rapid change will benefit most. The book offers actionable insights for those addressing technological disruption, global indebtedness, and shifting workplace dynamics, with frameworks applicable to both corporate and entrepreneurial settings.

Yes—it won multiple awards, including Business Book of the Year 2019, and combines real-world case studies with research-backed strategies. Its focus on post-Brexit leadership, AI integration, and rebuilding organizational trust makes it relevant for modern decision-makers.

• Trust-building in an era of eroded public institutions
• Adaptive decision-making amid AI and automation
• Balancing global indebtedness with innovation
• Leveraging geopolitical shifts for competitive advantage

The book argues leaders must blend human empathy with AI adoption, using robotics as tools rather than replacements. Case studies show how executives maintain team morale during tech transitions while avoiding ethical pitfalls.

Exclusive interviews with global executives reveal how they tackle crises like currency fluctuations, supply chain AI integration, and post-pandemic workforce restructuring. These anecdotes ground theoretical frameworks in practical scenarios.

It rejects static models, focusing instead on dynamic, crisis-ready leadership. Unlike older texts, it directly addresses modern issues: populist politics’ impact on business, remote team trust-building, and decarbonization pressures.

• Geopolitical realignments post-Brexit
• Inflationary cycles and corporate debt management
• Demographic shifts altering consumer markets
• Climate policy as a business risk multiplier

The authors recommend:

1. Conducting quarterly disruption audits
2. Creating crisis simulation teams
3. Implementing ethical AI governance boards
4. Redesigning KPIs to reward adaptive thinking

Chris Lewis: Founder of 500-person marketing agency Team LEWIS, advisor to governments and Fortune 500s, and Royal Society volunteer.
Dr. Malmgren: Former White House economic advisor specializing in megatrend forecasting, with a focus on AI and labor markets.

It advocates for “hybrid leadership” models where AI handles data analysis while humans focus on ethical oversight and employee development. The book warns against over-automating customer relations and provides checklists for responsible AI deployment.

With ongoing AI regulation debates, global debt crises, and hybrid work models, its strategies help leaders balance innovation with stability. Updated case studies in newer editions address post-pandemic supply chain reforms and Gen Z workforce dynamics.