Nurturing future leaders: The impact of Deloitte's vision on leadership

Vision and philosophy: A holistic approach to leadership

Deloitte’s focus on leadership development goes beyond traditional training. It’s an ongoing journey of growth from your first day at Deloitte. By embedding "Lead the Way" as one of its five shared values, Deloitte’s vision for nurturing leaders comes to life across the organization and in the everyday working life. This shared value underlines Deloitte’s belief that leadership isn’t just about titles, it’s a collective commitment that guides how every team member approaches their work. It encourages Deloitte professionals to take ownership, inspire others, and embrace forward-thinking solutions that make an impact that matters.

“Leadership is more than titles, it’s about building a mindset for growth, curiosity,and respect for others. We believe all individuals can lead and make adifference and we want to give them the tools and the space to do that”, says Anna Pontén, People & Purpose Partner.

Nurturing leaders: Programs and opportunities, every step of the way

Deloitte’s approach to leadership development is thoughtfully structured to guide its people on a growth journey—from self-leadership to leading others, and eventually to guiding larger teams or business units. This journey is grounded in three core dimensions of leadership: client, business, and people:

• The Client Dimension emphasizes the importance of building trusted, lasting relationships, and understanding client needs and delivering impactful solutions.
• The Business Dimension emphasizes aligning with Deloitte’s strategic goals, driving efficiency, and fostering innovation to ensure sustainable growth.
• The People Dimension focuses on creating an inclusive, supportive environment that nurtures talent, promotes collaboration, and builds strong, respectful relationships across teams.

Deloitte’s Global Talent Standards are key to this approach. They provide a clear framework for developing key skills at all levels and across regions. They set transparent expectations for every professional and outline three types of capabilities:

1. Leadership Capabilities – These skills are universal across career levels and geographies, setting a consistent standard for leadership qualities within every role.
2. Professional Capabilities – Core skills required at each career level, regardless of business unit or location, helping create a cohesive talent experience across the firm.
3. Technical/Specialized Capabilities – Skills that are tailored to specific business lines and service areas, allowing Deloitte professionals to specialize within their roles.

"We believe leadership starts with knowing yourself and grows through experience. From day one, we help people discover their strengths, take on challenges, and mentor others. Programs delivered by Deloitte University provide everyone with the opportunity to fuel their leadership capabilities and enable them to grow and lead in meaningful ways", says Anna. 

Impact on people and society: Leadership that makes a difference

Leadership is about more than just succeeding at work—it’s about making a positive difference in the world.

Diversity and Inclusion: We know that great ideas come from all voices. By building a culture where everyone’s perspective is valued, we’re creating a space where leaders can be their true selves. This openness strengthens our teams and makes us better at understanding and solving the unique challenges our clients and communities face.

Broader Impact: The impact of Deloitte leadership goes far beyond the office. As our people grow as leaders, they use what they’ve learned to support local communities, tackle real-world challenges with clients, and even champion sustainable practices. It’s this ripple effect that makes a difference—creating positive change that reaches beyond the work we do every day.

“We’re committed to developing diverse and inclusive leaders who are not just ready to lead at Deloitte, but to lead with purpose in the broader world", says Anna.

Looking ahead: Challenges in leadership development

Deloitte recognizes that the future of leadership development comes with unique challenges. Adapting to emerging technologies and collaborating across global teams in a rapidly evolving business environment are critical to building effective leaders. By addressing these challenges head-on, Deloitte aims to equip its leaders to make an impact that matters—for the firm, clients, and communities.