Lead Like a Leader

With Washington, D.C., undergoing significant transitions and Elon Musk stepping into his role as co-chair of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) alongside Vivek Ramaswamy, 2025 is set to be a year of substantial conversations, and change.

To prepare, I revisited Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson for the second time.

What stood out most to me was the openness of the book. I understand that Musk did not edit or curate the content, allowing Walter Isaacson to provide an unfiltered look into his leadership style, decision-making, and personality. Many leaders might have chosen to manage their portrayal, but Musk embraced full transparency.

Why is this relevant? As we prepare for the challenges, the book offers a playbook for how Elon has navigated high stakes, made bold decisions, and led in a rapidly evolving world.

Here are three key insights from Musk’s leadership style:

Mastering the Subject Matter
Musk immerses himself deeply in every field he enters—rockets, electric vehicles, or artificial intelligence. His relentless commitment to mastering problems goes far beyond what most leaders would ever attempt. Musk expects the same dedication from his teams, creating a high-stakes, high-pressure environment.

Rapid Innovation
Musk’s ability to push teams to test, fail, and iterate quickly has led to groundbreaking advancements. His “move fast and solve problems” ethos is a model for businesses striving to adapt and innovate rapidly.  

Fearless Execution
Musk’s willingness to take risks is unparalleled. From SpaceX’s critical fourth rocket launch to demanding the construction of Tesla’s Gigafactory at unprecedented speeds, his bold actions emphasize the importance of decisive implementation to achieve ambitious goals.

Most companies and leaders would not adopt these approaches.

As Washington, D.C., prepares for substantial changes—with Musk helping to shape critical conversations through DOGE—this book is a must-read for anyone navigating leadership, business, and policy. It provides invaluable insights to help leaders prepare their teams and companies for high-stakes discussions and transformative shifts.

Whether you’re running a business, working with policymakers, or positioning your organization for the future, Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson offers actionable lessons that can prepare you for the coming years

Find the book on Amazon here: Elon Musk by Walter Isaacson