Five years on from the Global Financial Crisis many people are still waiting for a visionary leader to emerge because finance is crying out for Leadership.
Leadership in terms of values, culture, business practice, value creation, direction, free markets and profit.
Imagine how much better the state of the world would be if the following words of wisdom had been uttered by a leading financier at any point during the last five years?
"Many people in this country have paid the price before me and many will pay the price after me."
Said the Leader after receiving a government bailout before admirably falling on his sword.
"I like friends who have independent minds because they tend to make you see problems from all angles."
Said the Leader who promoted oddballs to his inner circle empowering diversity of opinion and encouraging dissent.
"It is in the character of growth that we should learn from both pleasant and unpleasant experiences."
Said the Leader brave enough to fire the bad guy on the trading floor even though he's the biggest rainmaker.
"Real leaders must be ready to sacrifice all for the freedom of their people."
Said the Leader graciously retiring after 8 years in the top job, just like the US President does.
"What counts in life is not the mere fact that we have lived. It is what difference we have made to the lives of others that will determine the significance of the life we lead."
Said the Leader who actively believed philanthropy was a core value rather than a marketing strategy.
"When the history of our times is written, will we be remembered as the generation that turned our backs in a moment of global crisis or will it be recorded that we did the right thing?"
Said the Leader five years on from the Global Financial Crisis detailing the lessons learnt.
Only problem is none of these words were actually uttered by a financier. They were the esteemed words of Nelson Mandela.
May I ask who is the Mandela of finance?
I think it's time to empower him or her to show Leadership in this industry.
Let's begin this debate before it's too late.