Taylor Swift’s Masterclass: Lessons in Leadership for Us

My View

When the two-minute countdown clock appeared on the jumbotron, the crowd was in a frenzy. Our bracelets, which would soon flash in unison, hadn’t even activated yet. A three-plus hours long phenomenon ensued — a concert that was part live music, part immersive storytelling.

In December, I joined over 150,000 “Swifties” at the final stop of The Eras Tour in Vancouver, B.C. Though I didn’t know all the lyrics or have bracelets to trade, I was captivated by the event. It was like nothing I’d ever seen. Swift isn’t just an artist. She’s a master of connection, reinvention and community building.

So like any educator who never truly clocks out, I wondered: What can we learn from her? What lessons do her concerts hold for us? I count multiple lessons.