A few weeks ago, we visited friends whose daughter is absolutely enchanted by Pippi Langkous. And let’s be honest, who wouldn’t be? She’s strong enough to lift a horse, cheeky enough to mock authority, and free enough to live by her own rules. But as I watched this little girl talk about Pippi with sparkling eyes, it struck me: this pigtailed rebel might have more to say about courageous leadership than we appreciate her for.
Pippi may be fictional, but her approach to the world embodies many of the traits today’s leaders need: boldness, empathy, boundary-setting, and the ability to disrupt what no longer serves. Here’s what leaders at any level can learn from her.
Courage, the mother of all virtues
As Aristotle noted, “Courage is the mother of all virtues” because without it, we struggle to act on any of the others. You can value compassion, honesty or justice, but without courage, those values tend to stay theoretical. Brené Brown reinforces this in Dare to Lead: “Courage is not just one of the virtues, it is the virtue that makes all the others possible.”
Courageous leadership means translating values into action, especially when it would be easier not to. Pippi reminds us that leadership isn’t about control but having the guts to be real, speak up, and shake things up.
The courage to lead with authenticity
Pippi doesn’t try to fit in. She doesn’t apologise for being different. She wears mismatched socks, tells wild stories, and lives by her own code. Her difference is her strength.
Courageous leaders don’t perform leadership. They practise it with authenticity. They show up fully and give others permission to do the same. Authenticity builds trust. And trust is the currency of good leadership.
The courage to challenge norms
Pippi questions rules that make no sense and pokes fun at rigid authority. She doesn’t break things just to be disruptive, she questions what doesn’t align with common sense or fairness.
Leaders need this lens too. Challenging outdated policies, exclusive cultures or broken systems takes guts. But it’s how progress happens. Courageous leadership means standing up even when you’re standing alone.
The courage to set and respect boundaries
Pippi is clear about her limits. She chooses who enters her space, when she needs solitude, and what she will or won’t accept. She also listens when her friends express their own boundaries.
In leadership, boundaries aren’t barriers. They’re enablers of wellbeing and clarity. It takes courage to say, “This is what I need” and to respect when others do the same. Healthy boundaries build healthy teams.
The courage to lead with empathy
Pippi tells stories that pull people in. Her imagination connects, entertains, and makes people think. She may be odd, but she leads with heart.
Empathy is often dismissed as “soft,” but it’s anything but. Leading with empathy means listening beyond words, making space for emotion, and responding with care. It requires vulnerability and that takes serious courage.
The courage to stay curious
Pippi isn’t out to convert anyone to her worldview. She stays curious about how others live and think. Her questions come from openness, not ego.
Leadership, especially inclusive leadership, is not about having all the answers. It’s about asking better questions. Curiosity fuels growth, innovation, and inclusion. And it demands courage, especially in moments when saying “I don’t know” feels risky.
In other words
Pippi Langkous may be a fictional character with a monkey and a suitcase of gold (ssshhh… don’t tell the little girl!), but her approach to life holds a mirror to modern leadership. If we want to lead with impact, build inclusive cultures, and drive change that matters, we need more than competence. We need courage.
So next time you’re faced with a leadership challenge, ask yourself: What would Pippi do?
(She’d probably bake pancakes for the whole team and then ask inconvenient questions that gets people thinking. Not a bad strategy.)#
