Leadership and  Radical Transparency

The ‘why’s’ and ‘ways’ of leading, according to leadership expert John Maxwell, shape both the character of the leader and the kind of contribution he or she makes to society.

Genuine leadership transcends in different facets and dimensions that go beyond position, legal authority or technical expertise. It is rooted in moral responsibility, strategic foresight, and a commitment to the common good. 

The Filipino cultural experience offers a compelling illustration of this principle.  International observers have frequently praised the exceptional talents of Filipinos in global talent platforms.  Yet beyond art excellence, what stands out is a deeper cultural trait: the absence of hostility between generations of performers.  Senior artists do not view emerging talents as threats; instead, they mentor, nurture and inspire them.  This nurturing culture and mindset reflect core Filipino values such as respeto (respect) and bayanihan (community spirit). These values extend beyond entertainment. They shape how Filipinos lead, collaborate and build institutions. 

Yet, over time practices evolve.  Mechanisms such as unprogrammed appropriations—intended to provide fiscal flexibility in times of surplus revenue or external financing – often generate debate.  This mechanism sits at the intersection of trust and power because they are not automatically released and are often less visible than programmed funds.  It demands a higher standard of ethical leadership.  While designed for responsiveness, they also raise legitimate concerns about discretion, accountability and potential misuse. This raises critical questions:  What constitutes a better system?  How can corruption be prevented? How can stewardship of public funds be strengthened? These are not merely technical questions—they are ethical ones.

Leadership is tested most when faced with conflict crises and scarce resources, whether in the utilization of oil products or in the stewardship of public funds. In the study of Government Accounting, business students learn that agencies are supposed to submit proposed budgets anchored on specific programs and projects. Funds are appropriated accordingly, and releases are staggered based on the progress of implementation.  This system is designed to strengthen internal control and safeguard public resources. 

When organizations are poorly managed, trust is eroded and the perception of opacity intensifies. Conversely, when managed with principled leadership and radical transparency, fiscal flexibility need not come at the expense of accountability. In government, radical transparency affirms a simple but powerful principle: public funds exist for public benefit, and every citizen has the right to understand how every peso is justified, released and utilized.

Reform efforts illustrate this direction.  The Philippines’ adoption of the blockchain technology through the Digital Bayanihan Chain initiative signals an institutional commitment to transparency by creating tamper-resistant records of budgetary transactions (dict.gov.ph).   However, technology demands ethical leadership that can reinforce trust and institutional credibility.

Radical transparency, a terminology buzzed by modern CEO Ray Dalio in his book, Principles: Life and Work, must be exercised with cultural intelligence. Leadership and transparency combined are not confined to government.  In the Filipino context, openness does not equate to bluntness and insensitivity.  Responsible transparency communicates truth, with respect, compassion, and awareness of relational dynamics. When aligned with respeto and bayanihan, transparency strengthens rather than fractures social cohesion. This philosophy must be exercised with cultural intelligence.

In business, customers deserve clear, accurate, and complete information about products and services.  In professional organizations, stakeholders expect integrity in decision making.  Across sectors, transparency functions as a discipline of responsible leadership. 

Global leaders are called to take actions with deeper responsibility toward humanity. This season of Lent offers a timely framework for leadership and nurturing the young.   The act of fasting is more than a physical sacrifice where there is a profound integration of moral discipline, integrity, and radical transparency.  Leadership, too, hungers and demands the use of power – a hunger not merely for authority but the need to transform this into a hunger for accountability as a steward of humanity.  To build sustainable futures with the next generation of leaders, we need to be radically transparent about the challenges we are now facing.

When leaders nurture rather than compete, they create environments where young minds flourish. Nurturing young minds requires more than teaching technical competence.  Ultimately, it requires modeling ethical courage, responsible leadership and principled openness.  When leaders integrate moral responsibility, cultural values, and institutional accountability, they create environments where trust thrives and integrity is honored. The next generation is empowered to lead with radical transparency–not as an optional enhancement in leadership – it is foundational. 

Fe Violeta G. Baluran, CPA, MBA  is a devoted faculty member of the Department of Accountancy at the Ramon V. del Rosario College of Business (RVRCOB), De La Salle University. Among her teaching assignments were: Basic Accounting subjects, Ethics and Business Communication to the undergraduate and graduate students of the university. She can be reached through fe.baluran@dlsu.edu.ph

Francia R. Santos, LPT, CPM, DBA  is an associate professor in the Department of Marketing and Advertising at RVRCOB, De La Salle University. Currently, she is the  President of the Executive Council of Deans and Educators in Business (ECODEB).  She is also  one of the coordinators of the Global Sustainable Futures Network (GSFN) scattered from 100+ countries across the globe.