ABSTRACT
Throughout history leadership has played an important part in building societies and shaping destinies of nations. This chapter focuses on two global leaders, Lee Kuan Yew of Singapore and Margaret Thatcher of Great Britain who have changed the entire discourse of economic development by demonstrating how prosperity of a nation depends on good governance. Lee Kuan is an example of a leader who understood the dangers to society from corruption. Good leadership is a natural outcome of society which rewards merit and excellence. Although India is a democracy with constitutional guarantee for equality of opportunity, hereditary and 'right connections' still play an important part for an individual to come up in life. According to Indian wisdom and tradition a leader is one whose actions are motivated by public good - lokasangraha. Good leaders have an explicit regard for excellence and inspire their constituencies to cultivate it.
