Whakapapa: Plant a Tree You’ll Never See

Over a decade ago, I was gifted James Kerr’s Legacy: What the All Blacks Can Teach Us About the Business of Life by four New Zealand leaders. It remains one of the most heartfelt moments I’ve experienced. They gathered me in a circle, sang a Māori song, and then presented the book. The song itself was the true gift, but the book has continued to offer powerful insight.

One of Kerr’s fifteen lessons is whakapapa—to be a good ancestor. He reminds us to connect the past, present, and future, and to consider how we take responsibility for what comes next. He invites us to plant trees we will never see.

The beginning of each year offers a natural moment for reflection. Leadership isn’t only about what we deliver today. It’s about the conditions we create for those who come next—the trees we plant that we may never see.

As you step into the year ahead, what might it look like to lead with the future in mind?

Let whakapapa guide you as you consider how this idea might shape the year ahead.