Change begins with a single person and a compelling idea. But no leader creates disruption alone.

As innovators inspire others to join their cause, their influence grows—first incrementally, one per-

son at a time, then exponentially as teams form, and finally infinitely as movements take on lives of their own.

In 2026, our Tinker program will center around Leadership Development. In this podcast, I break down the upgrades and walk you through some of the process and theory.

The First Realm: SELF-Leadership

Foundation: If you want to go fast, go alone

Before you can lead others, you must learn to lead yourself. Self-leadership is about mastering

your mindset, managing your energy, clarifying your values and building the discipline to act with

intention. Fix the leader, fix everything else.

The Second Realm: TEAM Leadership

Growth: If you want to go far, go together

Once you can lead yourself, you’re ready to lead those who are compelled to follow—your employees and team members. This realm focuses on documentation, training, delegation and creating systems that work without you.

The Third Realm: PEER Leadership

Influence: Leadership beyond authority

Peer leadership means influencing those who have no obligation to follow you—colleagues, partners, family and community members. This requires building trust, demonstrating value and leading through example and relationship.

The Fourth Realm: TRIBE Leadership

Impact: Leadership at scale

Tribe leadership is about inspiring a community through storytelling, vision and values. Your influence extends beyond individual relationships to shape culture and create movements.

Remember: Each realm builds on the previous one, but no realm is ever complete. You’ll cycle through all four levels throughout your leadership journey, constantly refining and deepening your practice.