Ambition

Leadership doesn’t happen by accident—it’s shaped by intention, self-awareness, and the choices we make long before we hold a title. Too often, leadership development is left to chance or deferred until someone else decides we’re “ready.” The most effective leaders, however, take ownership of their growth early, treating leadership as a skill to be deliberately cultivated rather than passively inherited. This Fortune article offers a practical perspective on how ambitious individuals can take control of their own leadership development journey.