The Dark Side of Leadership
Wednesday 20 May 2026 • 3:00PM BST (60 mins)
Join Partners for Leadership for this expert-led discussion on the systemic causes of destructive leadership, with practical insights for senior leaders today.
Exploring why corporate failure is rarely just about the individual, we’ll focus on the role organisational and external factors play – and argue that how we interpret the ‘dark side’ of leadership is a matter of perspective.
Relevant for strategic leaders operating in complex organisations and HR leaders shaping senior leadership teams.
Led by experts from two top-tier business schools – hosted by Partners for Leadership.
Hear from our expert panel
Dr Peter Stephenson – University of Exeter
Lecturer in Leadership and Management. Former entrepreneur with a focus on
collective leadership, ethics and power dynamics.
Professor Richard Bolden – UWE Bristol
Professor of Leadership and Director of Bristol Leadership and Change Centre.
Specialist in systems leadership, complexity and leadership development.
Morgen Witzel – University of Exeter
Author and lecturer on leadership, ethics and governance with extensive global
publishing experience – and Partners for Leadership ‘Critical Friend’.
The first event of a new series...
In a world where leadership failures are increasingly visible, too often we rush to blame individuals for corporate failure – without considering the wider context and role which regulators, auditors, consultants, the media and others may have played.
This webinar – the first of a new series from Partners for Leadership – invites you to explore a broader perspective. Rather than focusing solely on individuals, it will consider the organisational, social and regulatory factors that often contribute to the outcomes we see.
This is a practical, discussion-led session designed for senior leaders who want to better understand and respond to the complexity of leading at the highest levels today.
What we’ll explore
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Why leadership failure is rarely just about the individual
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The role of organisational and external systems in shaping behaviour and outcomes
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Insights from the ‘Dark Pyramid’ framework
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Case studies illustrative of the dark side of leadership
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Practical implications for senior leadership, culture and governance today
