Swift Leadership: A Taylor-made Approach to Influence and Decision Making (Exploring Effective Leadership Practices through Popular Culture)

Taylor Swift has been making music for over a decade and her growing popularity can especially be seen by the global impact her 2024 Eras Tour has sparked. Swift has been able to leverage her popularity to stand up to giants in the entertainment industry, championing various industry and societal underdogs.

It is not just Swift’s popularity that makes her an interesting person to study for leadership. She has consistently taken on the male-dominated industry by taking on her record label when she was being compensated unfairly by re-recording her old albums. She also fought the largest ticket company, and major player in the music industry, when they were gouging her fans with too high prices. She won against the company, and they were forced to cave to her requests. Swift also champions diversity, positivity, and is influential to so many fans who want to emulate her.

Yates and Urick explore, through Taylor Swift, a range of leadership concepts such as transformational leadership, goal setting, creativity and innovation, power, team effectiveness and more.

Mariah Yates is Assistant Professor in the Gordon Ford College of Business (GFCB) at Western Kentucky University. She recently received the Vitale Award for Initiative, Innovation, and Leadership for her development of the university’s first DEI micro-credentialing program.

Michael J. Urick is Dean of the Alex G. McKenna School of Business, Economics, and Government at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, Pennsylvania (USA) as well as a Professor of Management and Operational Excellence.