Fiona Macintosh: What Kung Fu Panda taught me about leadership
When my son was recently laid up with a cold, we found ourselves reaching for comfort - and in our house, that often means old favourite films.
This time it was Kung Fu Panda, a DVD we hadn’t dusted off in years. I expected a few light-hearted laughs and some nostalgic fun. What I didn’t expect was a full-blown masterclass in leadership, motivation and the messy, uncomfortable truth about personal growth.
I found myself thinking: Po is every small business owner I work with. Not the martial arts part, but the journey. The uncertainty. The accidental leadership. The feeling of being completely out of your depth.
And the more I watched, the more it made sense. Here’s what Kung Fu Panda can teach us about leadership - especially for those of us who never planned on becoming leaders in the first place.
The Unlikely Leader

Po is not the obvious choice. He’s awkward, unfit, and utterly lacking in traditional experience. And yet - he’s chosen. Much like many small business owners who never set out to lead people, but find themselves with a team anyway.
You were great at what you did - dog grooming, digital design, joinery, jam-making - and the business grew. Suddenly, you’re not just the expert. You’re the boss.
And that shift? It’s harder than anyone tells you.
Leadership lesson: You don’t have to look like a leader to become one. Start with the willingness to grow.
Battling the Inner Critic
Po doesn’t believe he belongs. Neither do the other characters around him. And yet, something inside him wants to try. That’s imposter syndrome - a familiar companion for so many founders and accidental managers.
I see this all the time: smart, driven, passionate people doubting themselves the moment they have to manage others. And often, instead of getting support, they just keep pushing through…until something breaks.
Leadership lesson: Confidence isn’t a qualification. It’s something we build - with support, reflection, and practice.
The Mentor’s Misstep
Master Shifu, the traditional leader, tries to turn Po into a warrior by training him like all the others. It doesn’t work. It’s only when he changes his approach that Po begins to flourish.
This is where so many leadership challenges begin - expecting people to fit the mould, rather than understanding what motivates them or what support they need to succeed. Whether you’re managing one person or a dozen, real leadership is about helping people become the best version of themselves, not clones of you.
Leadership lesson: Effective leaders adapt their approach to bring out the best in others.
The Big Reveal: There Is No Secret Ingredient
The legendary Dragon Scroll is blank. The big secret? There isn’t one. The power was in Po all along.
And that’s the truth about leadership. There’s no magic formula. No scroll of answers. What your team needs most is you - with self-awareness, clear communication, and a willingness to keep learning.
Leadership lesson: You are the secret ingredient. But only if you believe it.
Purpose, Not Perfection
In the end, Po doesn’t win because he becomes perfect. He wins because he leads with heart, humour, and belief. He’s real. And that authenticity earns trust.
People don’t follow job titles. They follow purpose. If you care, if you show up, if you communicate clearly and consistently - your team will follow. Not always perfectly, but meaningfully.
Leadership lesson: Lead with purpose. The rest can be learned.
Ready to Find Your Inner Dragon Warrior?
You don’t need to do it alone.
If you’ve found yourself leading a team and thinking, Why is this so hard? I’ve got something that can help. Be The Leader Your Business Needs is a practical, flexible leadership programme designed for small business owners like you - people who care deeply about their work and their people, but never got the training to lead with confidence.
It combines on-demand lessons, live sessions, community support and mentoring - so you can lead better, without having to pause your business (or your life).
As a reader of Executive Magazine, you can access the programme with 10 per cent off using the code EXECUTIVE10 - valid until 28 June.
Visit https://portal.morethanmotivation.co.uk/courses/leader and start your journey - scrolls and dumplings optional.
Fiona Macintosh is a professional member of the International Stress Management Association, holds a CPCAB-accredited Level 5 Diploma in Mental Health & Wellbeing Awareness and is an accredited Practitioner of Motivational Maps and Liberating Leadership.
Fiona can help you develop a wellbeing strategy, undertake stress risk assessments to protect your workforce, and provide team and leadership development for your organisation.