Kenneth Mikkelsen
@kenmikkelsen.bsky.social
Leadership Philosopher-Practitioner l Existential Coach of Leaders l Global Speaker l Author of The Neo-Generalist and upcoming The Essential (2025)
Quality posts on philosophy, psychology, sociology, leadership, history, learning, books and art.
Quality posts on philosophy, psychology, sociology, leadership, history, learning, books and art.
Today, in the world of Harvard Business Review, LinkedIn gurus, and power-hungry politicians, truth is no longer something pursued — it is packaged, monetised, and sold.
Three steps to clarity. Five skills of high performers. Seven ways to lead through uncertainty. How to close the deal - and win!
Three steps to clarity. Five skills of high performers. Seven ways to lead through uncertainty. How to close the deal - and win!
Leadership Without Truth: What Camus Saw and HBR Never Understood
In 1946, Albert Camus was invited to give a series of lectures in North America.
open.substack.com
October 13, 2025 at 2:37 PM
Today, in the world of Harvard Business Review, LinkedIn gurus, and power-hungry politicians, truth is no longer something pursued — it is packaged, monetised, and sold.
Three steps to clarity. Five skills of high performers. Seven ways to lead through uncertainty. How to close the deal - and win!
Three steps to clarity. Five skills of high performers. Seven ways to lead through uncertainty. How to close the deal - and win!
Just because.
Nick Cave: ‘I don’t know where I would be if my son hadn’t died. Grief turns you into a person. Before, I was incomplete’
The Australian singer has lost two children and many friends and family members in recent years. But he has emerged stronger. He expresses this resilience in an album full of hope, titled ‘Wild God’
english.elpais.com
July 26, 2025 at 9:52 PM
Just because.
A recommended read.
We speak often of AI as if it were a future event. | Kenneth Mikkelsen
We speak often of AI as if it were a future event. But it is already here—not just in machines, but in the fabric of our being. What Karl Ove Knausgaard captures with devastating clarity in his recent...
www.linkedin.com
July 23, 2025 at 10:33 AM
A recommended read.
On the smallness of old men obsessed with power.
July 7, 2025 at 8:02 AM
On the smallness of old men obsessed with power.
A play: The Theater of Leadership Development
Leadership is not a performance.
This piece rips off the mask.
Seven acts. No buzzwords.
Just truth, care—and a quiet rebellion.
open.substack.com/pub/houseofb...
Leadership is not a performance.
This piece rips off the mask.
Seven acts. No buzzwords.
Just truth, care—and a quiet rebellion.
open.substack.com/pub/houseofb...
May 7, 2025 at 8:05 PM
A play: The Theater of Leadership Development
Leadership is not a performance.
This piece rips off the mask.
Seven acts. No buzzwords.
Just truth, care—and a quiet rebellion.
open.substack.com/pub/houseofb...
Leadership is not a performance.
This piece rips off the mask.
Seven acts. No buzzwords.
Just truth, care—and a quiet rebellion.
open.substack.com/pub/houseofb...
Henri Bergson on Time.
Henri Bergson on Time
A philosophy webcomic about the inevitable anguish of living a brief life in an absurd world. Also Jokes
existentialcomics.com
April 21, 2025 at 3:33 PM
Henri Bergson on Time.
A piece, a play, a poetic slam:
Something is about to unfold. Not on a stage, but in a mirror. Seven acts. A lens, slowly turned. Not a manifesto. Not a toolkit. A philosophical unmasking of the leadership industry—its myths, its performances, its polished evasions.
Something is about to unfold. Not on a stage, but in a mirror. Seven acts. A lens, slowly turned. Not a manifesto. Not a toolkit. A philosophical unmasking of the leadership industry—its myths, its performances, its polished evasions.
The Theater of Leadership Development
By Kenneth Mikkelsen
open.substack.com
April 10, 2025 at 7:04 PM
A piece, a play, a poetic slam:
Something is about to unfold. Not on a stage, but in a mirror. Seven acts. A lens, slowly turned. Not a manifesto. Not a toolkit. A philosophical unmasking of the leadership industry—its myths, its performances, its polished evasions.
Something is about to unfold. Not on a stage, but in a mirror. Seven acts. A lens, slowly turned. Not a manifesto. Not a toolkit. A philosophical unmasking of the leadership industry—its myths, its performances, its polished evasions.
Excellent journalism on the war in Ukraine.
Adam Entous conducted more than 300 interviews over more than a year with government, military and intelligence officials in Ukraine, the United States, Britain, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Turkey.
This is a LONGREAD.
Adam Entous conducted more than 300 interviews over more than a year with government, military and intelligence officials in Ukraine, the United States, Britain, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Turkey.
This is a LONGREAD.
The Secret History of the War in Ukraine
This is the untold story of America’s hidden role in Ukrainian military operations against Russia’s invading armies.
www.nytimes.com
April 2, 2025 at 6:44 AM
Excellent journalism on the war in Ukraine.
Adam Entous conducted more than 300 interviews over more than a year with government, military and intelligence officials in Ukraine, the United States, Britain, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Turkey.
This is a LONGREAD.
Adam Entous conducted more than 300 interviews over more than a year with government, military and intelligence officials in Ukraine, the United States, Britain, Germany, Poland, Belgium, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia and Turkey.
This is a LONGREAD.
No child dreams of becoming an accountant, an insurance salesman, or a CEO.
Children dream of courage and beauty, justice and goodness.
It is not until later they end up in a box on LinkedIn.
Children dream of courage and beauty, justice and goodness.
It is not until later they end up in a box on LinkedIn.
March 21, 2025 at 6:56 PM
No child dreams of becoming an accountant, an insurance salesman, or a CEO.
Children dream of courage and beauty, justice and goodness.
It is not until later they end up in a box on LinkedIn.
Children dream of courage and beauty, justice and goodness.
It is not until later they end up in a box on LinkedIn.
New poem.
On the house.
For modern times. 🎪
On the house.
For modern times. 🎪
March 12, 2025 at 5:06 PM
New poem.
On the house.
For modern times. 🎪
On the house.
For modern times. 🎪
In 1958, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's novel ‘The Leopard’ was published.
The central idea is captured in the famous quote: "If we want things to stay as they are, they must change."
How would a poem in Lampedusa’s spirit sound today?
The central idea is captured in the famous quote: "If we want things to stay as they are, they must change."
How would a poem in Lampedusa’s spirit sound today?
March 8, 2025 at 10:16 PM
In 1958, Giuseppe Tomasi di Lampedusa's novel ‘The Leopard’ was published.
The central idea is captured in the famous quote: "If we want things to stay as they are, they must change."
How would a poem in Lampedusa’s spirit sound today?
The central idea is captured in the famous quote: "If we want things to stay as they are, they must change."
How would a poem in Lampedusa’s spirit sound today?
Fear + Ignorance = Hate.
March 6, 2025 at 9:19 AM
Fear + Ignorance = Hate.
Reposted by Kenneth Mikkelsen
The Situation, March 3, 2025
Stop defaming Neville Chamberlain by comparing Trump to him:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
Stop defaming Neville Chamberlain by comparing Trump to him:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
March 4, 2025 at 11:36 AM
The Situation, March 3, 2025
Stop defaming Neville Chamberlain by comparing Trump to him:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
Stop defaming Neville Chamberlain by comparing Trump to him:
www.lawfaremedia.org/article/the-...
Anyone concerned with current world affairs should watch the documentary “The Trouble with Being Human These Days” with Zygmunt Bauman(1925–2017).
Link to the documentary: vimeo.com/154973102 (paid access).
The collage is homemade. Photo credit: Samuel Sánchez for El País.
Link to the documentary: vimeo.com/154973102 (paid access).
The collage is homemade. Photo credit: Samuel Sánchez for El País.
March 1, 2025 at 9:59 AM
Anyone concerned with current world affairs should watch the documentary “The Trouble with Being Human These Days” with Zygmunt Bauman(1925–2017).
Link to the documentary: vimeo.com/154973102 (paid access).
The collage is homemade. Photo credit: Samuel Sánchez for El País.
Link to the documentary: vimeo.com/154973102 (paid access).
The collage is homemade. Photo credit: Samuel Sánchez for El País.
Reposted by Kenneth Mikkelsen
An oasis in the known universe needs to be looked after with care.
Join us if you agree that we need to get better at this.
youtu.be/h7SwEGryo-M?...
Join us if you agree that we need to get better at this.
youtu.be/h7SwEGryo-M?...
EXISTENTIAL MOVEMENT : BRINGING WISDOM TO A TURBULENT WORLD
YouTube video by ExistentialMovement
youtu.be
February 24, 2025 at 8:04 AM
An oasis in the known universe needs to be looked after with care.
Join us if you agree that we need to get better at this.
youtu.be/h7SwEGryo-M?...
Join us if you agree that we need to get better at this.
youtu.be/h7SwEGryo-M?...
Reposted by Kenneth Mikkelsen
Bloody marvellous … one of the best novels I’ve read in a while.
February 11, 2025 at 6:07 AM
Bloody marvellous … one of the best novels I’ve read in a while.
AI models invites leaders and managers across the organisation to ensure philosophy is deliberately embedded within the development and execution of AI strategies,” states this new article from @mitsloan.bsky.social.
True, but let’s not make philosophy the bitch of business.
True, but let’s not make philosophy the bitch of business.
Philosophy Eats AI
AI’s ability to create value rests on the philosophy determining how and what it learns.
sloanreview.mit.edu
February 22, 2025 at 7:57 PM
AI models invites leaders and managers across the organisation to ensure philosophy is deliberately embedded within the development and execution of AI strategies,” states this new article from @mitsloan.bsky.social.
True, but let’s not make philosophy the bitch of business.
True, but let’s not make philosophy the bitch of business.
The one with historical experience knows that hubris always goes hand in hand with nemesis. The regulator of arrogance is justice. At all times, they struggle to restore balance.
If you despair over the state of the world right now, know this.
If you despair over the state of the world right now, know this.
February 21, 2025 at 8:48 PM
The one with historical experience knows that hubris always goes hand in hand with nemesis. The regulator of arrogance is justice. At all times, they struggle to restore balance.
If you despair over the state of the world right now, know this.
If you despair over the state of the world right now, know this.
Who would have guessed that driving a Tesla is now like driving a Beetle in 1939 Germany?
February 16, 2025 at 6:56 AM
Who would have guessed that driving a Tesla is now like driving a Beetle in 1939 Germany?
Ai, ai, ouch.
Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds.
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets…
— Macbeth
As always a delight to read Alan Lightman.
Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds.
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets…
— Macbeth
As always a delight to read Alan Lightman.
When the Unnatural Becomes Natural
Artificial intelligence will redefine some of our deepest assumptions about the makeup of the world around us.
www.theatlantic.com
February 11, 2025 at 5:38 PM
Ai, ai, ouch.
Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds.
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets…
— Macbeth
As always a delight to read Alan Lightman.
Foul whisperings are abroad: unnatural deeds.
Do breed unnatural troubles: infected minds
To their deaf pillows will discharge their secrets…
— Macbeth
As always a delight to read Alan Lightman.
Empowering Affected Interests by Archon Fung and Sean W. D. Gray.
This book reimagines the democratic project for a globalised world in which states can no longer satisfy democratic ambitions.
Free PDF download.⬇️
cup.org/4bttpKW
This book reimagines the democratic project for a globalised world in which states can no longer satisfy democratic ambitions.
Free PDF download.⬇️
cup.org/4bttpKW
Empowering Affected Interests
Cambridge Core - Political Philosophy - Empowering Affected Interests
cup.org
February 11, 2025 at 1:15 AM
Empowering Affected Interests by Archon Fung and Sean W. D. Gray.
This book reimagines the democratic project for a globalised world in which states can no longer satisfy democratic ambitions.
Free PDF download.⬇️
cup.org/4bttpKW
This book reimagines the democratic project for a globalised world in which states can no longer satisfy democratic ambitions.
Free PDF download.⬇️
cup.org/4bttpKW
“Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder,” said Socrates.
But if AI accelerates our access to answers, do we risk diminishing the messy, frustrating, but essential process of grappling with uncertainty?
www-psychologytoday-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.psyc...
But if AI accelerates our access to answers, do we risk diminishing the messy, frustrating, but essential process of grappling with uncertainty?
www-psychologytoday-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.psyc...
The Death of "I Don't Know"
As AI serves up certainty like fast food, we're becoming intellectually obese—too full of answers to hunger for deep understanding.
www-psychologytoday-com.cdn.ampproject.org
February 4, 2025 at 8:15 AM
“Wonder is the feeling of a philosopher, and philosophy begins in wonder,” said Socrates.
But if AI accelerates our access to answers, do we risk diminishing the messy, frustrating, but essential process of grappling with uncertainty?
www-psychologytoday-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.psyc...
But if AI accelerates our access to answers, do we risk diminishing the messy, frustrating, but essential process of grappling with uncertainty?
www-psychologytoday-com.cdn.ampproject.org/c/s/www.psyc...