Speaking on Sanny Ntayombya’s “Long Form” podcast, Sellars shared insights from his global career and recent research in Rwanda. He offered a roadmap for leaders to harness the potential of this new generation while addressing entrenched habits holding the country back. <\/p>\n
Sellars, who has led teams across Australia, Asia, the U.S., and Switzerland, founded T.E.S. to distill decades of leadership lessons into practical tools. <\/p>\n
In Rwanda, he has worked with 33 leaders across the banking, construction, and health sectors, surveying 200 peers and reports. His findings reveal that Rwandan leaders excel in people-oriented skills like achievement, self-actualization, humanism, and affiliation, surpassing global averages. <\/p>\n
\u201cThese leaders are well above the world averages,\u201d he said, attributing this to \u201ca level of awareness of others and a consciousness of what needs to be done.\u201d <\/p>\n
He, however, noted that some leaders’ reluctance to take risks could hinder the government’s broader agenda to transform Rwanda into a regional economic powerhouse. <\/p>\n
Sellars observed that Gen Z\u2014a generation he describes as opinionated, emotionally intelligent, and eager for happiness\u2014has much to offer. According to him, Unlike their predecessors, who were shaped by fear and survival, these young Rwandans enter the workforce with security and ambition. <\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019re probably the first generation to have that since God knows when,\u201d Sanny interjected, noting their contrast with leaders \u201ctrained by trauma.\u201d <\/p>\n
Sellars sees opportunity here, but it demands adaptation. \u201cThey get bored quickly,\u201d he said. \u201cIf you don\u2019t challenge them, they\u2019ll check out or leave.\u201d <\/p>\n
So, how can Rwandan leaders turn Gen Z into an asset? \u201cDelegate effectively,\u201d Sellars advised. <\/p>\n
\u201cSet clear expectations upfront, not late-stage control. Move people across functions. A cameraman in marketing brings fresh visuals, while a marketer in sales crafts better messaging.\u201d <\/p>\n
He emphasized accepting failure without punishment. \u201cMagic happens between silos, but it requires risk,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
For a generation that doesn\u2019t defer to authority\u2014\u201cthey don\u2019t call you sir, they don\u2019t title emails properly\u201d\u2014 he emphasizes that leaders must let go of their egos. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe most effective leaders are incredibly hard to offend,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
This shift, Sellars argues, could also ease another Rwandan leadership trap, which he describes as overworking.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe most senior people are working 12-hour days, most of the weekend,\u201d he said. \u201cMy hope is that the message I\u2019m sharing is: You are doing a great job\u2014slow down. Those extra 20 hours destroy more value than they create.\u201d <\/p>\n
His own sabbatical story drives this point home. After leaving his Australian team for three months, he returned to find them delivering their best performance yet. <\/p>\n
\u201cYou created a team that was independent and brilliant,\u201d his boss told him, giving him the highest rating of his career. <\/p>\n
Sellars’ recent research highlights Rwanda\u2019s strengths and weaknesses. While aggressive styles like competition and opposition, common in the U.S. and Australia, are less prevalent in Rwanda, he notes that passivity remains a persistent challenge. <\/p>\n
\u201cThe most effective leaders in Rwanda are the ones investing heavily in helping their people succeed,\u201d he said. <\/p>\n
Sellars tested his ideas at leadership retreats in Nyamuhazi last year, and he believes they worked. Leaders opened up about their struggles, and one even reported that her team performs better now that she\u2019s stopped micromanaging. <\/p>\n
Looking ahead, Sellars connects Rwanda\u2019s future to its leaders and how they tap into Gen Z\u2019s potential. <\/p>\n
\u201cBuild a space where they can grow, even if they\u2019re not ready to do it themselves,\u201d Sellars advised. <\/p>\n
The leadership guru believes Gen Z\u2019s tech skills and confidence can thrive if leaders guide them the right way. <\/p>\n
Watch the full interview below: <\/p>\n