What do great leaders and great musicians have common?
They are passionate. They are real. They spark that fire from within. They make things - and people - rock.
Lead from your core. Because people aren't moved by the perfection. They are moved by what is felt real.
World doesn't need more managers to tick boxes - It needs leaders who rock.
In a complex, fast-moving, and uncertain world, leadership rooted solely in rationality is no longer enough. Today’s leaders are called to unite emotional and ethical capability with clear reasoning.
Modern leadership engages heart, mind, and soul, like the music pros and rock bands who’ve stood the test of time.
Inspired by the power of music and the high-performing dynamics of rock bands, The Hard Rock Core of Leadership is a bold, human-centered leadership book grounded in the timeless essence of leadership.
Building on close to 30 years of leadership experience - including roles across diverse cultures and international contexts - the author blends research with insight into force of music to introduce a leadership model built around six timeless pillars:
Values. Purpose. Emotions. Engagement. Inner Discipline. An open heart and mind. These define a leader’s authentic inner core - the foundation of powerful, resonant leadership.
This book invites you to journey to discover your core - and lead from it. Become a leader who rocks.
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Who it's for? Today’s and future leaders, leadership and culture developers, coaches, students, music professionals, fans of music, organisations seeking inspiration.
Based on 200+ research studies and close to 30 years of passionate leadership. Shaped by real interviews with iconic, world-class music pros who've inspired millions:
Photo Copyright © Reza Cifuentes
"That’s the only reason you do the music - absolute love. Be real, bring your talent, respect each other, and enjoy it."
BRAD SUNDBERG - Techical Director for Michael Jackson, on Albums Bad, Dangerous, Blood on the Dance Floor, HIStory, GRAMMY Voting Member
Leaders Who Rock are grounded, human, and real. They unite, inspire trust, create belonging, and navigate complexity with intention.
Living The Core
Leadership and music share a powerful truth: both reach people deeply and create connection through emotion, ethics, and reason - turning moments into lasting impact and groups into more than the sum of their parts.
The book’s music professionals have shaped rock and pop with work that has stood the test of time. From pioneering genres and creating iconic songs to breaking barriers and influencing audiences worldwide, they share insights that inspire and strengthen today’s leaders.
Photos by Lari Järnefelt
The Author
I am Harri Palviainen - a CEO, executive, board member, purpose-driven leader, and lifelong music lover - and the author of this leadership book, a rebel in the genre.
For close to 30 years, I’ve led people and organizations across listed companies, SMEs, academia, the public sector, and a venture fund, including international work serving customers across Europe, MEA, APAC, and the Americas.
Leadership has enabled me to create positive impact with inspiring people around the world, while music has kept me connected to emotion, energy and the human spirit. Over time, these worlds merged into a vision of leadership build on emotion, ethics, and reason.
The future demands leaders who reach people’s hearts, minds, and souls. It calls for a grounded leadership core - strong enough to guide, open enough to be guided, and humble enough to keep learning.
My goal has long been authentic, empowering leadership - uniting strategic thinking with human belonging, grounded in values, integrity, curiosity, and engagement, and elevated by an open heart and mind.
Leadership that rocks isn’t just an idea - it’s what I believe in. I’ve seen it come alive in leaders, teams, music, and moments that matter most, grounded in research and enriched by dialogue with music professionals. It is shaped by diverse insights brought together as one.
I invite you to discover your own Hard Rock Core of Leadership - and to lead from it.
Follow me on LinkedIn, or LeadersWhoRock
The Hard Rock Core of
LEADERSHIP
Six Pillars to Lead With Emotion, Ethics & Reason
The Hard Rock Core of Leadership is a model grounded in values, driven by purpose, conveyed through emotions, built on belonging through engagement, disciplined by integrity, and elevated by openness that creates space for others and leads to the extraordinary.
Values Drive Behavior
Engagement Enables Belonging
Purpose Ignites Passion
Inner Discipline Builds Integrity
Emotions Bridge Us Together
Open Heart Creates Space for Others - Open Mind Leads to the Extraordinary