The Leadership Secrets of Colin Powell

Birth of a Leader

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Colin Powell emerged as one of the key leaders guiding the U.S. response. Prior to the attacks, Powell had been criticized in the media for being out of step with the Bush administration, particularly in his multilateral approach. But as the new war on terrorism commenced, Bush called on him to help in building a worldwide coalition. The manner in which he approached this task - and indeed the fact that the job was assigned to him in the first place - illustrates Powell’s approach to leadership. Powell’s first commitment is to his own principles of standing up for what is right, embracing change and living with disagreement, and if this dedication sometimes puts him at odds with those around him, so be it.

Powell showed early signs of leadership. He was born in 1937 in Harlem, New York, to parents who had emigrated from Jamaica. He grew up in the Bronx, New York, graduated with a B.S. in geology from City College of New York in 1958, and while at City College, joined the ROTC. He became a company commander and rose to the rank of cadet colonel. After graduating, he received a commission as a second...