Before my trip to Antarctica, I saw leadership as something structured: a system built on plans, policies, and strategies. Art, on the other hand, felt fluid, intuitive, and deeply personal. The two seemed like opposing forces, each following its own set of rules. However, my time abroad showed me that sustainable leadership is not separate from art. It is an art.
Patterns, Repetition, and the Art of Leadership
It all started in Argentina, long before I set foot in Antarctica. Walking through Buenos Aires and Ushuaia, I became fascinated by the repetition in architecture. The symmetrical patterns of Plaza de Mayo, the rhythmic placement of spherical bollards, the structured repetition of domes and pillars at the Mausoleo del General José de San Martín, etc. Each design carried a sense of intentionality and order. Then, in Ushuaia, I found the same repetition in the most unexpected places: wire mesh trash bins lining the streets, metal door bars, or even the arrangement of flower beds. It was everywhere.
By the time I reached Antarctica, I started seeing repetition on an even grander scale. Penguins nest in perfect synchronization, the rhythmic crashing of waves against glaciers, the fluid, etc. There was a pattern to it all: one that didn’t feel imposed, but rather something natural, something organic. And that’s when it hit me: leadership, at its core, works the same way.
Sustainable leadership is not about imposing rigid structures; it’s about recognizing the patterns that emerge within a team, a community, or an environment and using them to create a lasting impact. A great leader, much like an artist, understands that true transformation doesn’t happen through isolated actions but through the deliberate repetition of values, practices, and connections. Leadership, like art, is not about forcing every detail into place but about setting a rhythm, reinforcing a vision, and allowing the composition to evolve naturally over time.
Balance: The Leadership Triangle
As a layout artist, I understand how crucial balance is in photography. The right composition depends on the relationship between foreground and background, the interplay of light and shadow, and the harmony of elements within a frame. Even the fundamentals of photography, the exposure triangle, revolve around balance. Adjusting ISO, aperture, and shutter speed isn’t about following a fixed formula; it’s about making choices based on the conditions at hand.
Sustainable leadership is no different. It requires balancing three key relationships: the connection between individuals, the relationship between people and the environment, and the tension between short-term actions and long-term impact. Just like in photography, where overexposure or underexposure can ruin an image, leadership suffers when one of these elements is neglected. A leader must adjust, adapt, and fine-tune until everything falls into place.
Trusting the Process: Leaving Room for the Unexpected
A true artist doesn’t strictly control every brushstroke. They trust the process. Before my trip, I meticulously prepared my equipment: macro lenses, filters, photography coursework, 3D mapping experiments, etc, thinking I had everything planned out. But when I arrived, I realized the most meaningful images were the ones I hadn’t planned for.
A penguin bowing before a Virgin Maria statue at an Argentinian base. A humpback whale raising its fins as if waving at us. Even more extraordinary was the rare sight of twelve orcas migrating together.
None of these moments were scripted. And yet, they became the most powerful parts of my experience.
That’s what sustainable leadership is about: leaving room for the unknown. A true leader does not dictate every outcome but instead fosters an environment where people can innovate, take risks, and contribute something unexpected. Sustainable leadership, like art, thrives in spaces where trust, adaptability, and spontaneity are embraced.
Collaboration: The Most Powerful Masterpiece
Perhaps the biggest artistic lesson I learned about leadership was through my peers. In my blog Antarctica and my 2Cs story: Connection, and Community, I wrote about how I initially planned to navigate this trip in solitude, believing my work was best done alone. But my peers changed that and showed me the greatest success is never created in isolation.
The same applies to leadership. Sustainable leadership isn’t about standing apart from the group. It’s about bringing people together, fostering collaboration, and creating something bigger than any one individual. Just like the most powerful artworks, the most impactful leadership is built on collective effort.
Conclusion
My time in Antarctica changed the way I see both art and leadership. Sustainable leadership is not just about policies or environmental action. It is about vision, connection, and the ability to inspire. It requires seeing patterns where others see chaos, trusting the process rather than forcing outcomes, and creating something that speaks to both the present and the future.
Just as an artist tells a story through color, texture, and form, a leader tells a story through relationships, initiatives, and impact. True sustainability is not just about preserving resources. It’s about ensuring that future generations can continue adding to the canvas, painting their own stories of connection, conservation, and change.
As I move forward, I will carry with me this understanding: that the most powerful leaders are artists, and the most impactful art is leadership in its purest form.