MBA graduate Maro Itoje tackles leadership differently

Friday marks Maro Itoje's debut as the British and Irish Lions Captain — one of the biggest accolades in rugby.

While most headlines focus on his athletic ability, just as impressive is the leadership style he’s become known for: intentional, inclusive, and quietly influential. It’s a style he clearly prioritises, and one explored during his Master’s of Business Administration (MBA) at Warwick Business School.

Dimitrios Spyridonidis, Associate Professor of Leadership and Innovation, taught Maro leadership on the MBA, a course that encourages students to reflect on their own leadership style and how to adapt it to different teams and challenges.

“Leadership isn’t just about taking charge — it’s about creating trust, encouraging contribution, and knowing when to speak and when to listen,” says Dr Spyridonidis.

“These include things like emotional awareness, openness, adaptability, and the ability to foster psychological safety.

"One thing we look at on the course is cross-cultural leadership and managing diverse teams. Our MBA cohort is very diverse and international, with students from all over the world, and this is reflected in modern corporations with offices around the world.

“So today’s leader needs to lead across difference, get the best out of a diverse team, and mould a consensus and vision together, which, from everything that has been reported, is what Maro does exceptionally well.”

Maro, who graduated in 2024, is one of several rugby players who have studied for an MBA at Warwick Business School, with Wales lock Will Rowlands graduating in 2022, Springbok and former Worcester Warrior Dewald Potgieter completing his in 2020, while fellow South African Rory Duncan, who has recently been appointed CEO Free State Cheetahs, is in the middle of his MBA. 

Despite being an England rugby star Dr Spyridonidis remembers Maro as a humble and hard-working student.

“On the Global Online MBA Maro demonstrated a disciplined, focused, and highly professional attitude, balancing his academic work with an elite sporting career,” says Dr Spyridonidis. “He showed a thoughtful, values-driven approach to leadership, often linking course insights to both sport and social impact.

“In group work, he was collaborative, humble, and inclusive, contributing meaningfully without seeking the spotlight. Maro consistently brought a reflective and purposeful presence to the programme.”  

Reports on Maro’s leadership style in the England squad highlight his prioritisation of integrating younger players, sharing messaging duties with team-mate Jamie George and keeping calm under pressure.

What is Maro Itoje's style of leadership?

“Maro’s approach fits what we call communal leadership,” says Dr Spyridonidis. “It’s not about hierarchy or control — it’s about cohesion, shared purpose and influence built on credibility, not volume.”

His style is also a noticeable shift from what rugby fans might expect. Reports highlight that he doesn’t rely on shouting or swearing in the dressing room, instead choosing calm, deliberate messaging, and prioritising inclusion of everyone in the squad and maintaining a sense of calm under pressure.

“That’s a big cultural shift,” says Dr Spyridonidis. “Especially in a sport like rugby where typical leadership has often been about authority and volume. What we see with Maro is a leader who knows how to adapt, who listens, and who puts the team first.

“Plus, that kind of change doesn’t happen by accident. How you lead is a decision. It shows a leader who is thinking about how he wants to show up — not just for himself, but for the team.”

On the Warwick MBA, students explore a range of leadership styles and contexts, from strategic change and crisis response, to ethical decision-making and team dynamics. They’re challenged to reflect on their own style, understand when to lead from the front, and when to lead from within.

“There’s no single style that works for everyone,” says Dr Spyridonidis. “We help leaders become more intentional — more conscious of how their choices affect people and outcomes. Maro came in already committed to that journey.”

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