The 2025 Oscars wasn’t just a celebration of film—it was a masterclass for leaders in times of contradiction. Against the backdrop of devastating Los Angeles wildfires and political turbulence, the ceremony offered powerful lessons in how to acknowledge difficult realities while maintaining hope and purpose.
This delicate balance mirrors what leaders across industries face today: navigating complex challenges while sustaining forward momentum and inspiration.
Here’s what leaders can learn from this year’s Academy Awards.
Acknowledging Reality Without Surrendering To It
When host Conan O’Brien opened the ceremony, he faced a delicate balancing act. Los Angeles is still reeling from the terrible wildfires that destroyed nearly 12,000 homes and displaced thousands in January. Any awards show could seem self-indulgent and superfluous against such a backdrop. Yet instead of ignoring this tension, O’Brien brought it up himself.
He then took the opportunity to highlight the craftspeople, artisans and behind-the-camera professionals whose work often goes unrecognized in the film industry. By connecting the evening to the broader community of creators who pour their talents into bringing stories to life, O’Brien transformed potential discomfort into a chance for meaningful recognition.
Lesson for leaders: Effective leaders acknowledge difficult realities without surrendering to them. They practice transparent communication during crises, maintain team morale while addressing challenges and find meaningful purpose that transcends immediate difficulties. By peppering serious moments with well-timed levity or moments of unity in hope—as O’Brien did throughout the night—leaders create space for both acknowledgment and forward movement.
The Power Of Adaptability In Changing Landscapes
One controversial decision in this year’s Oscars was to forgo live performances of Best Original Song nominees. Breaking with decades of tradition, the Academy chose to spotlight the songwriters instead of staging elaborate performances. This decision was not without critique and backlash, yet the Academy stood firm.
Lesson for leaders: Many difficult decisions will not be popular, especially those that challenge established traditions or buck expectations. The strongest leaders don’t make decisions based on avoiding criticism. They weigh priorities, consider alternatives and sometimes choose paths that generate resistance but ultimately serve their core mission.
In today’s rapidly changing business landscape, leaders must constantly evaluate when to hold firm to traditions versus when to innovate. They must help teams embrace necessary changes while maintaining core values and find creative solutions that preserve what matters most—even when those solutions aren’t embraced by everyone.
Doing More With Less: The Reality Of Modern Leadership
The Brutalist, which won three of the ten categories in which it was nominated, was filmed in just 33 days—a remarkably condensed timeline for a critically acclaimed feature film. This reality of independent filmmaking, where budgets are tight and schedules compressed, mirrors the unspoken “do more with less” mandate facing leaders across industries today.
Lesson for leaders: Leaders often face intense pressure to deliver results with increasingly limited resources. The most capable among them develop adaptable strategies for thoughtful prioritization, create environments where efficiency doesn’t sacrifice quality or morale and help teams embrace constraints as creative catalysts rather than frustrating limitations.
Embracing Authenticity Through Genuine Connection And Communication
An early win of the evening came when Flow—a film with absolutely no dialogue created by independent animators from Latvia—won Best Animated Feature Film. In his acceptance speech, director Gints Zilbalodis emphasized: “We’re all in the same boat. We must overcome our differences and find ways to work together.”
Right afterward, the Iranian directors who won Best Short Animated Film for In the Shadow of the Cypress delivered a heartfelt speech after nearly not making it to the U.S. to attend the ceremony. Though they struggled to coordinate their parts of the speech (English is not their first language), their authentic message still came through powerfully.
Lesson for leaders: In our global and interconnected world, words are less important than collaborative action. Authentic expression can communicate more than polished, robotic perfection. Leaders who value authenticity over perfection and build common ground across differences will harness the full potential of their teams.
Balancing Contradiction In Confusing Times
“It’s both joyful and heartbreaking,” Oscar nominee Cynthia Erivo said on the red carpet, and although she was describing her upcoming film, Wicked: For Good, this sentiment perfectly captures the contradictory landscape many leaders navigate today. Best Supporting Actress winner Zoe Saldaña echoed this, acknowledging to Entertainment Weekly that she felt deep gratitude and joy at the recognition Emilia Pérez received, while simultaneously experiencing heartbreak and loss from the wildfires.
Lesson for leaders: Effective leaders create space for celebration even during difficult times, acknowledge hard truths while inspiring hope and recognize that contrasting emotions can serve as complementary forces rather than opposing ones. They understand that joy and distress aren’t mutually exclusive—even in uncertain times.
The Art Of Both/And Leadership
The 2025 Oscars ultimately showed us that leadership today isn’t about choosing between opposing approaches. Like the best films, effective leadership embraces complexity and nuance. It moves beyond false dichotomies to create more resilient, nimble organizations.
The most successful and influential leaders in these complex times will be the ones who find ways to navigate seemingly contradictory elements with tact and purpose. In so doing, they remind us that our greatest capacity for positive impact emerges not from choosing one path over another, but from integrating multiple truths into a more complete whole.