“erguson was not beyond reproach. He could be ruthless, controlling, and quick-tempered.

But even those who clashed with him often later recognised the intention behind the edge – a relentless drive to uphold the values that built the game, not the spectacle that sold it.

In a world chasing instant results, he chose continuity.

In an era of ego, he modelled commitment.

And in a profession obsessed with winning, he pursued worth.

His stewardship was not smooth or saintly – it was lived, human, and hard-earned.

And that’s what makes it real.”

“In our previous discussion, we delved into The What of Stewardship - how Purpose, Architecture, and Coaching shape what we build. Now, we turn to The Why - the deeper currents that hold an ecosystem together.

Stewardship isn’t about individual leadership styles. It’s about the shared conditions that allow people, organisations, and environments to thrive - together. This comes from lived and breathed values.

Across years of coaching, leading, and building systems, I’ve observed four values that consistently define whether an ecosystem flourishes or fractures”.

“Everywhere we look today, we are told to “lead.” We need strong leaders in business, in politics, in communities, in our own lives. And yet, for all this talk of leadership, the world still feels restless, fragile, and unfinished.

What we are missing is not leadership itself.
What we are missing is stewardship.

Stewardship is Different”

“Jane Goodall’s life was a lifelong act of stewardship - of listening, tending, and gently awakening our shared sense of responsibility for the Earth and all its inhabitants.

What made Jane Goodall a steward rather than simply a scientist or activist? Her life reveals the same interwoven pattern of attitudes, principles, skills, and behaviours that define true stewardship.”

“When he founded Patagonia in 1973, he insisted it would be different: business as a vehicle not for extraction but for regeneration. What began as better gear for climbers became a bold experiment in stewardship. Every product was a test: could it be durable, repairable, recyclable? Every policy was a statement: the earth is not for sale, but for safekeeping.

In 2022, Chouinard gave away the entire company. ”

“One of my favourite quotes comes from Rudyard Kipling, who wrote about his “six honest serving-men” - What, Why, When, How, Where, and Who. These steward framings, as I call them, have helped me steward teams, organisations, and new ventures for years, and I’ve seen them bring clarity to nearly every leader I’ve coached. They sit at the heart of transformation.

In this post, we hone in on three core components of stewardship - the first of Rudyard’s steward framings: “What”, which guides how we act, build systems, and hold responsibility. Over the coming weeks, we’ll continue this series, exploring each component in depth.

The What of Stewardship is made up of three components: Purpose, Architect, and Coach.”

“She once said:

“We must never forget what happened in Hiroshima. If we remain silent, the lessons are lost. Every story told, every voice raised, is a responsibility to protect future generations from the same horrors.”

From that commitment grew her lifelong advocacy. She helped shape ICAN, campaigned tirelessly at the United Nations, advised world leaders, and contributed to a global movement that ultimately won the Nobel Peace Prize. Yet Setsuko was clear: this was never her work alone. It was stewardship – a continuum of care for memory, humanity, and the future.”

“When we launched the Be the Waves manifesto, we said something simple but important: we don’t need more leaders, we need stewards.

Alongside that, we asked a question: what does stewardship mean to you?

The replies were thoughtful, personal, and often moving. This blog gathers those voices - not as a survey or a theory, but as lived reflections. What emerged was striking: different words, different perspectives, but a strong shared current of care, responsibility, and conscience.”

“She once said:

“You cannot protect the environment unless you empower people, you inform them, and you help them understand that these resources are their own, that they must protect them.”

From that first act grew the Green Belt Movement. By the time of her death, more than 50 million trees had been planted across Africa, livelihoods had been restored, and countless women empowered. Yet Maathai was clear: this was never her work alone. It was stewardship - collective care for what had been entrusted”

“Stewardship? So much transformation is framed as changing cells, fixing the smallest unit. But a cell cannot live without a system. Take a white blood cell: on its own, it has no meaning. It only brings life when supported by blood, by platelets, by the liquid that carries it. That liquid needs veins. Those veins need a pump, a heart. A heart needs a body. A body needs fuel. Fuel depends on growth. Growth depends on healthy air, water, and sunlight. And even those depend on the people, structures, and choices that govern how they are sustained.

I have always worked this way, long before I knew to call it ecological: paying attention not only to the smallest part, but to the whole system around it, and to the leaders who shape it”.

“Everywhere we look today, we are told to “lead.” We need strong leaders in business, in politics, in communities, in our own lives. And yet, for all this talk of leadership, the world still feels restless, fragile, and unfinished.

What we are missing is not leadership itself.
What we are missing is stewardship.

Stewardship is Different”