Sir Richard Branson
Richard Branson’s Leadership
Holding more than 200 companies in more than 50 countries, including the recent Virgin Galactic, a space-tourism company, the virgin group is a business force like few others (Biography.com, 2014). Employing approximately 50,000 people worldwide this international investment group was originally set up as a mail-order record business the Virgin Group has gone on to grow in various business sectors ranging from mobile communications, transportation, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays, publishing, retailing and health and wellbeing. In 2012 Virgin’s revenue from around the world exceeded $24 billion (Virgin.com, 2014), making it one of the most recognizable brands of the 21st Century. The founder and man, behind the brand is a well respected business man and has been a household name for years, particularly in the United Kingdom.
The first component of this essay looks at the history and organizational structure of the Virgin Group with the second component focusing on the leadership style of Richard Branson using accepted leadership concepts / theories with a view to understanding the leadership dynamics that have helped create a global conglomerate.
Thirdly, the essay aims to determine how I would lead differently if I were put in the same situation/s as Richard Branson.
Virgin Structure
Richard Branson learned, from an early age, not to let adversity stand in the way of accomplishing a goal. Born on July 18, 1950, in Surrey, England, Richard Branson struggled in school and dropped out at age 16—a decision that ultimately lead to the creation of Virgin Records.
From these humble beginnings as a publishing venture in 1968, the Virgin Group is today a global entity with diverse interests having expanded into other sectors making Branson a billionaire. Arguably one of the keys to the successful expansion of the group has been in founding a strong identity for the brand name, thereby creating interest of any new
Holding more than 200 companies in more than 50 countries, including the recent Virgin Galactic, a space-tourism company, the virgin group is a business force like few others (Biography.com, 2014). Employing approximately 50,000 people worldwide this international investment group was originally set up as a mail-order record business the Virgin Group has gone on to grow in various business sectors ranging from mobile communications, transportation, travel, financial services, leisure, music, holidays, publishing, retailing and health and wellbeing. In 2012 Virgin’s revenue from around the world exceeded $24 billion (Virgin.com, 2014), making it one of the most recognizable brands of the 21st Century. The founder and man, behind the brand is a well respected business man and has been a household name for years, particularly in the United Kingdom.
The first component of this essay looks at the history and organizational structure of the Virgin Group with the second component focusing on the leadership style of Richard Branson using accepted leadership concepts / theories with a view to understanding the leadership dynamics that have helped create a global conglomerate.
Thirdly, the essay aims to determine how I would lead differently if I were put in the same situation/s as Richard Branson.
Virgin Structure
Richard Branson learned, from an early age, not to let adversity stand in the way of accomplishing a goal. Born on July 18, 1950, in Surrey, England, Richard Branson struggled in school and dropped out at age 16—a decision that ultimately lead to the creation of Virgin Records.
From these humble beginnings as a publishing venture in 1968, the Virgin Group is today a global entity with diverse interests having expanded into other sectors making Branson a billionaire. Arguably one of the keys to the successful expansion of the group has been in founding a strong identity for the brand name, thereby creating interest of any new