How Mike Jacobs is Rewriting The Rules of Leadership
Speaker Spotlight
Mike Jacobs, Chief Growth Officer, Consortium Brands, defines success by the outcomes he makes possible for others.
“Leadership isn’t more output, it’s leverage. If the team wins because you made them sharper, faster, and more confident, that’s when you actually win. “
That perspective was hard-earned. Early in his career, after outperforming his peers across every metric, Jacobs expected to pass his performance review with flying colors. Instead, he received the lowest rating. The reason? While he was highly effective as an individual, he was breaking the system around him.
That moment reframed everything for him. Success suddenly became about building systems that produced outcomes. He wasn’t just interested in motivating people, but creating the conditions where teams can operate with clarity, speed, and alignment. From that point on, Mike shifted his focus from individual performance to leverage. He understood that designing environments where strong teams consistently outperform was the key to true success.
That philosophy carries directly into how he sees the future of work.
As AI continues to dominate the conversation, Jacobs is focused less on automation and more on amplification. The real opportunity isn’t just using AI to execute faster, but to think better. He views these systems as becoming his fellow collaborators: Tools that challenge assumptions, expand possibilities, and push ideas further than any one person could alone.
Without clear positioning and strong thinking behind it, AI simply makes you faster at being average. The advantage will go to those who pair these tools with clarity, judgment, and a differentiated point of view.
That perspective shapes his advice for the next generation of leaders: “Learn how to think! Staying curious is your career superpower.”
Mike’s philosophy is simple: Create leverage, remove friction, and leave every team better than you found it.
It’s a mindset grounded in curiosity and humility. In an industry that rewards certainty, staying open, adaptable, and willing to question assumptions is what drives long-term growth.
At The Lead Summit (May 20–21, NYC), Mike will break down what it actually takes to operate at a higher level today, and rethinking the marketing funnel in the age of AI.
Come hear from over 150 speakers at The Lead Summit 2026 (May 20-21 in NYC)! Register here.
