3 Leadership Lessons from Global Mayors: How City Leaders Drive Change Like CEOs

Welcome to Modern CEO, the newsletter where we explore inclusive leadership through conversations with executives, entrepreneurs, and insights from Inc. and Fast Company. If you received this newsletter from a friend, you can sign up here to get it every Monday morning.

A year ago, as federal agencies faced deep budget cuts, Modern CEO examined what government does well—particularly solving problems that businesses often avoid due to profitability concerns. Today, many of those challenges—affordable housing, mass transit, public education, environmental sustainability, and climate change—are increasingly being addressed by city leaders, according to Mike Bloomberg, former mayor of New York and founder of Bloomberg LP.

The more national governments retreat from the world stage, the more important mayors become. Mayors have to move quickly and adapt to big change.

Like CEOs, mayors must balance long-term vision with day-to-day execution. Daniel Ramot, CEO of Via Transportation, notes that mayors are uniquely positioned to lead both strategic initiatives and hyperlocal solutions.

Mayors, perhaps more than any other civic leaders, are expected to advance strategic, multiyear infrastructure and policy initiatives while at the same time being attentive to the hyperlocal needs of individual residents. I have always been impressed by how the very best mayors are able to manage this tension. It requires genuine empathy and attention to detail, combined with the ability to look beyond the status quo, dream big, and ground those dreams in a reality informed, first and foremost, by data.

(Disclosure: Bloomberg CityLab covered travel and accommodation for this event.)

In many ways, city hall operates like a business—complex, fast-paced, and accountable to diverse stakeholders. Here are three leadership lessons from mayors around the world, shared at Bloomberg CityLab sessions.

1. Build Inclusive Coalitions to Drive Impact

Baltimore Mayor Brandon Scott emphasized the power of community-driven strategies. His initiative to reduce vacant properties—now a citywide effort—relies on collaboration with the state of Maryland, philanthropic partners, and BUILD, a local community organization. BUILD provides capital to transform vacant buildings into affordable housing, and the results are measurable: the number of vacant properties in Baltimore has dropped from 16,000 in 2020 to 11,800 today.

Scott’s approach underscores a key leadership principle: inclusive coalitions amplify impact. By engaging diverse stakeholders—residents, nonprofits, and government—cities can build sustainable solutions that last beyond a single administration.

2. Use Deadlines as Catalysts for Change

Anne Hidalgo, former mayor of Paris (2014–2024), leveraged the 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games as a forcing function to accelerate urban improvements. The global spotlight and fixed deadline created urgency around projects like cleaning the Seine River, ensuring it was swimmable for athletes. Even as the games approached, officials reported progress in water quality and infrastructure upgrades.

Hidalgo’s strategy highlights how external pressures can drive internal transformation. For leaders, deadlines—whether from events, regulations, or crises—can break inertia and align teams around shared goals.

3. Ground Vision in Data and Empathy

Ramot’s observations point to a critical balance: mayors must combine big-picture thinking with granular attention to detail. The best city leaders use data to inform decisions but pair it with empathy for residents’ lived experiences. This dual approach ensures policies are both ambitious and responsive.

For example, data might reveal inequities in public transit access, but empathy ensures solutions address the real needs of underserved communities. It’s a model CEOs can emulate: lead with purpose, backed by evidence.

Why These Lessons Matter for Leaders Everywhere

As national governments face gridlock and retreat from global challenges, cities are stepping into the breach. Mayors like Scott and Hidalgo demonstrate that effective leadership isn’t about scale—it’s about adaptability, collaboration, and accountability. Whether in government or business, the principles of inclusive governance, strategic deadlines, and data-driven empathy are universal.