This week's Leadership Quote features Diego Maradona, influenced by our recent Scholar Spotlight on @Daniela Aguiar from @London Business School. During our conversation (which you can catch here), Daniela shared she admires Maradona for the remarkable grit and #determined attitude he possessed to journey from a humble background in Buenos Aires to becoming one of the world’s most celebrated football icons.

From Humble Beginnings to Global Stardom

Born on October 30, 1960, in Lanús, Argentina, Maradona rose from a poor neighbourhood to become one of football’s greatest players. His career is punctuated by his unparalleled skills in the field and his ability to overcome numerous challenges. Maradona's most celebrated achievement came in 1986 when he led Argentina to a World Cup victory.

Champion on and Off the Field

Beyond his football prowess, Maradona was a vocal advocate for various causes, including children’s rights and anti-discrimination efforts. His commitment to social issues was most shown through his work with UNICEF and his public support for political movements aimed at uplifting the underprivileged. 

Maradona's off-the-field endeavours included significant contributions to community and youth programs in Argentina and Naples, where he became a beloved figure not only for his football talents but also for his community involvement. His outspoken nature and willingness to address pressing social issues endeared him to many outside of the sports world, making him a symbol of hope and resilience.

Reflecting on Leadership

For leaders, Maradona's advice is clear: don't let success make you complacent. Instead, use it as motivation to keep striving, keep improving, and keep making a difference. His words teach us that the path to being #extraordinary is paved with continuous effort and an unwavering commitment to our goals. As we celebrate his successes and the indelible mark he left on football and beyond, we also must acknowledge that sometimes a virtue, when taken to an excess, becomes a vice. Maradona’s own struggles with fame and challenges remind us that even the most celebrated leaders are human and fallible. His life encourages us to examine the full spectrum of human experience in leadership—celebrating triumphs, while learning from their faults and always striving to do better, no matter the peaks we reach.