Ranjay Gulati: Building courage — one decision at a time

What does courage really look like in leadership? Often, we associate courage with bold gestures, fearless leaders, or decisive moments where doubt disappears.

My guest in this conversation is Professor Ranjay Gulati of Harvard Business School, who challenges that assumption through his research into what he calls the surprising science of everyday courage, and shows why fear is not a flaw in leadership but a starting point.

We explore why courage is a decision rather than a personality trait, how leaders can resource themselves when uncertainty rises, and the difference between thoughtful courage and reckless action. Ranjay shares stories from his research and personal experience that reveal how narrative, support squads, rituals and process help individuals and organisations act boldly with purpose.

If you’re facing decisions that feel uncomfortable this episode will help you build courage deliberately and use it as a practical leadership skill.

You’ll hear about:

• Why courage is a decision, not a trait
• How fear shows up in leadership decisions
• Courage versus recklessness
• Individual courage versus collective courage
• The power of personal narrative
• How leaders resource themselves
• Support squads and courageous leadership
• Why courage is a team sport
• Rituals that help manage fear
• Building courage as a muscle
• Common leadership blind spots around courage

More about Ranjay

Ranjay Gulati is a Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School. His pioneering work focuses on unlocking organisational and individual potential — embracing courage, nurturing purpose-driven leaders, driving growth, and transforming businesses. The Economist, Financial Times and the Economist Intelligence Unit have listed him as among the top handful of business school scholars whose work is most relevant to management practice.

He is a Thinkers50 top management scholar, and serves on the board of several entrepreneurial ventures. He is the author of Deep Purpose (2022) and How to be Bold (2025), both published by HarperCollins. He lives in Newton, Massachusetts, with his wife and two children.

• Ranjay’s LinkedIn profile
• Book: How to be Bold: the Surprising Science of Everyday Courage
• HBS profile