[So Jongseop's Sokterview] Evolutionary Biologist Jang Igwon "The Essence of Leadership is Integration and Prosperity"

Exploring the Essence of Leadership Through Animal Leadership Studies
"Distributed Leadership Needed in Uncertain Situations Like Now"
"Hope Is the Most Important Factor to Maintain an Unequal Society"

[Asia Economy So Jong-seop Trend & Weekend Managing Editor] I imagined a laboratory packed with books, but I was mistaken. When I entered Professor Jang I-gwon’s office (Department of Eco-Science, Ewha Womans University) in the Comprehensive Science Building at Ewha Womans University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, I momentarily thought I was in an art gallery. This was because miniature animals like frogs, paintings, and photographs were plastered all over the walls. Only after recalling that he leads the Earth Love Exploration Team did the office come into focus.

Professor Jang, who earned his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas, is an authority in behavioral ecology and evolutionary biology. At first glance, it might seem odd that he talks about leadership. However, his research shows that the essence of leadership?social integration and group prosperity?is the same for animals and humans. I met Professor Jang on the 1st to explore what insights animal leadership might offer humans, especially social leaders and CEOs. The day after the interview, on the 2nd, he was about to embark on an overseas trip for the first time in three years, and a smile never left his face.

Professor Jang Ikwon, an authority in the field of evolutionary biology at Ewha Womans University, is discussing the implications of animal leadership for humans in his laboratory. Photo by Heo Younghan younghan@

I really enjoyed reading your recently published book. The title was , right?

I’m not very fond of the title. Where are there perfect leaders in this world? It’s the same for humans and animals. The title I originally thought of was Animal Leadership, but the publisher was absolutely uncompromising. I didn’t bring the manuscript and say, “Please publish this.” The publisher asked me to give three lectures. Since I always give lectures, I agreed to do three. Then they expanded those lectures and turned them into something like a book. I was amazed by the publisher’s planning skills. It’s like I opened my mind and took out the content so it wouldn’t be a burden. (Haha)

Are there leaders in animal societies?

Of course. Animals that live in societies or groups always have leaders. We need to break the fixed notion of leaders. Usually, when people think of leaders, they think of presidents or CEOs. But not everyone can follow them, nor are they in such positions. There are leaders within families and groups too. Because of leaders, things can go well or badly. The rise and fall of animal groups hinge on leadership.

Why are leaders necessary?

There are two main reasons animals form groups: to defend against predators and to make finding or catching food easier. The larger the group, the better the defense and the lower the chance of being sacrificed. When giant petrels attack, emperor penguins form a circular formation to defend themselves. Lions living in groups cooperate with several lionesses to hunt prey. Humans are the same. Groups form because it’s advantageous for defense against enemies and solving survival issues.

But group living also has downsides. The most important is that everyone’s desires differ. Problems inevitably arise. If individuals only pursue their own desires, the group collapses or conflicts continue. Leadership is the process of coordinating the whole to achieve social integration. The leader is the one who does this.

There used to be universities without presidents. When I asked professors there how they managed the school, they said there were no problems. But one thing was regrettable: decisions involving sacrifices couldn’t be made because there was no leader. That’s why leaders are needed.

Even if there are leaders, why do followers stay in the group instead of leaving?

Group living involves inequality. Naturally, leaders enjoy many benefits. But followers don’t compare themselves to leaders; they compare being in the group versus being alone. They weigh which is better. When followers can no longer expect benefits from the group, the group collapses. For leadership and followership to evolve, the benefits to individuals, including followers, must be clear. Like the alpha and beta males of the long-tailed manakin cooperating to court females, if there is confidence that the help given will return later, both sides benefit.

Professor Jang said, "The essence of leadership is the same for animals and humans." Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

What is the secret of leadership that maintains an unequal society peacefully?

The fundamental reason society is unequal is that it consists of selfish individuals. To understand society, we must view it through selfishness to properly predict decision-making and behavior. Four things are necessary. First, sufficient benefits must be provided. Second, uncooperative subordinates must be firmly punished. Third, there must be strict criteria for rank advancement. Fourth, hope for the future must be presented.

The most important among these is hope. In the case of the “desert sentinels,” meerkats, one reason follower meerkats cooperate for the group is because they have hope that if the leader dies or disappears, they can become the leader. Human organizations are similar. There is a huge difference between having a chance to become an executive if you try and having no chance no matter how hard you try.

What insights does animal leadership give us?

Animal groups vary widely?from family groups like elephants to groups of hundreds of thousands like bees or ants. Some have divided roles like worker bees or honeybees, while others hunt cooperatively like wolves. Since problems differ, solutions must differ too. You can’t generalize with one vague answer.

In smaller groups, it’s important to show leadership that immediately solves the practical problems members face. The leader of an elephant group is called a matriarch, who finds water during droughts and saves the group from thirst crises. The alpha male wolf, after a successful hunt, doesn’t take the food first but feeds his family fully.

The larger the group, the more the leader moves away from practical problems. Large groups are divided by labor. In such cases, it’s important to align individual and organizational interests. Individuals naturally work for their own benefit. They say they work for the company, but it’s because it benefits them too. Like the queen bee producing queen pheromones, a unifying substance, to make worker bees work for the group instead of laying their own eggs. The queen bee aligns members’ efforts with organizational goals through this.

What should corporate managers especially take note of?

CEOs must present what the future food source is and select fields where the company can prosper and invest. This is one of the essential aspects of leadership. The methods will vary.

Similar to human society is bee society, where when making important decisions like finding a new home, scout bees who know the outside world best make the decisions. The entire bee colony does not participate in decision-making. The truly amazing thing is the queen bee. She lets the scout bees make such important decisions. For important decisions like this, it’s best to broaden the pool of experienced external experts such as stakeholders and entrust the decision to them.

Professor Jang's office walls were filled with miniatures, photos, and paintings of animals. Photo by Younghan Heo younghan@

What type of leadership is required in situations with increasing uncertainty like now?

Distributed leadership, as seen in bee society. Rather than authoritarian leadership, independent majorities make decisions through democratic processes. When experienced individuals gather to make decisions, a lot of information emerges, and the process itself involves discussion and persuasion. Even if a decision differs from one’s own opinion, one has to understand it.

There is no perfect leader in any situation. There is no leader suitable for all groups. Leaders can be kind or ruthless, but one must not confuse essence and derivatives. The essence of leadership is social integration and making society prosper. That is far more important than the human side. Especially for institutional or national leaders and CEOs. That is the lesson animal leadership gives us and the essence of leadership.

[Who is Professor Jang I-gwon]

He graduated from Seoul National University and earned his Ph.D. from the University of Kansas. He then worked as a researcher at Indiana University, the University of Missouri, and Seoul National University. He is currently a professor in the Department of Eco-Science/Life Sciences at Ewha Womans University. He served as the director of the Ewha Womans University Natural History Museum. He is a National Geographic explorer and the leader of the Earth Love Exploration Team. He has appeared on various broadcasts introducing the animal world, including JTBC’s “Different Class,” SER ICEO Leadership Management Program “Law of the Jungle,” EBS’s “Haeyo and Haeyo,” and CBS’s “Jang I-gwon’s Now, Nature.” His books include and .