Burberry & Apple’s Angela Ahrendts — How to unite a team

Authentic Leadership

Angela Ahrendts emphasizes the importance of authenticity in leadership by sharing a personal anecdote about taking a call from her daughter during a meeting. This act of prioritizing family over work resonated with many employees, highlighting her belief that leaders must connect with their teams on a human level. Reid Hoffman notes that Angela's approach at Apple was about more than just maintaining the brand's iconic status; it was about fostering a mission-driven environment where everyone felt valued and connected 1.

I'm not a king or a queen or a dictator. I'm here to do my life's greatest work. Will you help me? Can we do it together?

--- Angela Ahrendts

Angela's leadership style at Apple and Burberry was marked by her ability to unite global teams through everyday human contact and an elevated mission 2.

   

Leadership Journey

Angela's leadership journey is characterized by her loyalty and ability to connect with people on a personal level. Her experiences at companies like Liz Claiborne and Burberry taught her the importance of building trust and valuing diverse talents. Reid Hoffman highlights how Angela's ability to connect with people was a key factor in her success, as she learned to appreciate and elevate those with different skills 3.

Paul would stop by my office seven, eight o'clock at night sometimes, and he'd lean in and he'd say, I have no idea what you do, but keep on doing it.

--- Angela Ahrendts

This human-to-human connection was crucial in her leadership roles, enabling her to foster loyalty and unity within her teams 4.

   

Leading with Love

Angela's transition from Burberry to Apple was marked by her commitment to leading with love and creating a sense of family within her teams. Despite initial reluctance, her conversations with Tim Cook revealed a shared vision for uniting Apple's retail team under a common mission. Angela's leadership style, focused on love and community, was instrumental in achieving remarkable results at Burberry, where she emphasized the importance of everyone feeling welcomed and valued 5.

My job, and I have felt this way, as I've been put into very responsible leadership positions, is to make sure that it's a family, a community. Everybody belongs, everybody is welcome and loved.

--- Angela Ahrendts

Her ability to unite teams through love and a shared mission was a key factor in her successful leadership transitions 6.