Why cooperation, confidence and vision matter more than ever

With global uncertainty, geopolitical tensions, climate disruption and technological acceleration, it was a reminder that collaboration isn’t a luxury; it’s a necessity. That progress isn’t top-down; it’s built together. 

For me, it was invigorating. Not just for the global scale of ideas, but for how applicable the themes felt back home. 

Confidence that invites, not dominates 

What struck me most wasn’t how loud the voices were, but how grounded. These were leaders who knew what they brought to the table and were generous in drawing out others. Not defensive or driven by ego. Just purposeful. Their confidence wasn’t in knowing everything, but in knowing themselves. 

This is the kind of confidence we need more of. Confidence that doesn’t posture or protect our own patch, but one that opens doors and builds bridges. Leadership that endures isn’t about narrow-focus control; it’s about a bigger mindset, contributing to the wider community. 

Cooperation as strategic necessity 

It’s easy to default to individualism. Many of us work in small, high-performing environments where independence is prized. But independence alone will limit potential and suffocate success.  

Cooperation multiplies impact. It accelerates progress. One ecological leader said it plainly: “Why plant one tree when you could plant a thousand forests?” We need to think bigger. Not by scaling alone, but by linking arms. Especially in smaller communities, the potential for shared progress is immense if we choose trust. 

Vision: the overlooked leadership essential 

Too often we confuse activity with impact. A compelling vision, a clear picture of a better future, is what gives meaning to effort. It helps us prioritise. It lifts our eyes from the urgent to the important. 

The Summit reminded me how rare and vital vision is. Without it, we drift. With it, we build. I heard from people creating accessible education for the underrepresented, transforming the energy sector, redesigning financial inclusion and in one case, reinventing what it means to be a country! (Vít Jedlička, President, Liberland, gave a fascinating talk). They weren’t driven by profit alone, but by purpose.  

What’s the challenge for us? 

If the global conversations at Horasis had one universal message, it was this: leadership is no longer about going it alone. The problems we face, whether global or deeply local, are too complex, too urgent and too interconnected for that. 

Ask yourself: 

• In our own leadership spheres, are we content to only plant trees or are we possessed of the ambition to plant forests? 

• Are we confident enough in ourselves to genuinely collaborate? Or insecure and defensive? 

• Are we holding a vision worth following or simply maintaining momentum? 

• Are we listening beyond our usual circles to uncover new possibilities? 

• Are we using our leadership to contribute to the whole system, or obsessed by our own short term KPIs? 

Leadership isn’t a solo performance. It’s a shared responsibility. And in a place like the Channel Islands, where scale and proximity enable meaningful relationships, the opportunity to model collaborative leadership has never been stronger.  

The world doesn’t need more noise. It needs leaders of moral courage, clear purpose and generous spirit. There’s plenty of that on the islands already. Let’s keep building on it.