At the Collaborative Real Estate Summit held earlier this year, I walked through the six core leadership principles that have guided my 35+ year business career:
- Persistence
- Authenticity
- Continuous Improvement
- Transparency
- Failing Fast
- Daring to Dream
In a previous article, I recapped the first of those traits, persistence, and what that means to me in leadership.
This article focuses on one of the more difficult but essential traits for leaders: authenticity. For high-net-worth investors and seasoned professionals alike, authenticity isn’t just a character trait. It’s a filter for how we lead, decide, invest, and indeed, live our lives.
It Starts with Purpose
Bill George, former Medtronic CEO and Harvard professor, said it best:
“Before you can become an authentic leader, you have to know who you are. That’s your true north: your most deeply held beliefs, your values, the principles you lead by, and what inspires you.”
For any leader, your true north is your purpose. It’s not the goals you write on a business plan, but the deeper “why” that drives your actions. This is at the heart of who PPR is and the reason “purpose” is part of our name.
For a long time, I misunderstood this.
At my previous firm, I built one of the most profitable divisions, turning it from a struggling unit into a powerhouse. The teams I led consistently exceeded stretch goals, and given my results, experience, and vision, I believed I was the natural choice when the CEO position opened. I was confident the role would be mine, so when it went to someone else, I was devastated.
The pain was real, but after much self-reflection, the lesson was clearer. My purpose at the time wasn’t aligned with the company’s future. It was centered on me, on proving something, and on achieving a personal milestone. That’s not leadership. That’s ego cloaked in ambition.
Realizing When You’re Not the Right Fit
In the aftermath of not being chosen, I went through every emotion: disappointment, frustration, and even bitterness. However, over time, I began to ask better questions. Instead of asking why I didn’t get the job, I started asking myself, “What did I miss?” and “Was I really the right person for that role?”
The answer, as hard as it was to admit, was “no” because my vision of leadership then wasn’t focused on building the company we could become. It wasn’t about being the employer of choice, giving back to our communities, or making the mission bigger than myself. That wasn’t my true north at the time, and because of that, I realized I didn’t deserve the seat.
Admitting that publicly at the Summit was a first for me, but I believe leaders should talk about the moments that humble them and not just the ones that highlight them. Real growth happens in those in-between spaces, where identity and purpose are tested.
Leadership missteps taught me that alignment matters, and the same holds true for investors. Purpose drives better decisions.
Where Authenticity Meets Capital
Your authenticity should reflect your core values—who you are at your very essence. Whether you’re spending time with friends or walking into the office, those values should not change.
Authenticity also isn’t about perfection. It’s about alignment between who you are, what you believe, and how you lead. That alignment is just as critical in investing. For many of our investors, the question isn’t just ‘what’s the return?’ but ‘what’s behind the return?’ and ‘who’s behind the return?’ That’s where authenticity becomes more than character. It becomes risk management.
At PPR, our authenticity shows up in how we treat our stakeholders. We’re transparent about our strategies. We take the long view and don’t just seek easy, quick wins. We stay grounded in our core mission of delivering sustainable returns while creating meaningful community impact. When your purpose is real, it shows in the decisions you make, the people you attract, and the legacy you leave behind.
If you’re evaluating who to trust with your capital, I’d encourage you to look beyond the pitch deck and ask whether the people behind the investment are aligned with your values, your goals, and your long-term vision. That’s where real alignment and real returns begin.
Ending with a Challenge
I’ll end this article with the same question I proposed to the room at the Summit:
Are you clear on your purpose, and does it align with how you lead, invest, and serve?
If that question stirred something in you, it may be time to revisit how you’re approaching both leadership and investing. If not, don’t worry. Clarity often emerges through moments of discomfort, such as when the doors you expected to open remain closed, and you’re left to reflect on why.
If you’re interested in learning more about my thoughts on these leadership principles, explore my original articles where I share how each one shapes the way I lead, make decisions, and build trust over the long term.
