I remember studying the Nissan–Mitsubishi turnaround as a case study in a management course -but listening to Carlos Ghosn himself in recent podcasts felt like a jolt of reality. In today’s world, where corporate transformation is routinely paralysed by complexity and governance fatigue, Ghosn’s story stands out as a masterclass in decisive, unfiltered leadership.

In the Legend and Do It Yourself Génération podcasts (both in French), he dismantles the myth that transformation requires elaborate strategies or endless consultation. Instead, he demonstrates that simplicity, speed, and absolute accountability are the true engines of change.

What struck me most -having watched both podcasts and the Netflix documentary in the same weekend (sic!)- is how remarkably direct and grounded he is. No corporate theatre. No aura of strategic mystique. Just radical clarity, relentless execution, and personal ownership of outcomes.

Yes, his actions came with profound social consequences. But he achieved what he set out to do: save the company, restore its performance, and prove that leadership is ultimately measured not by intent, but by results. No easy stuff. For anyone leading an IT or digital transformation (or any other) today, Ghosn’s story is not just fascinating -it is a “tour de force”!

You will find the links of the podcasts at the end of this post, and here is the Netflix docu teaser:

See summary here:

95% Execution, 5% Strategy

Ghosn rejects the myth that transformation is primarily about strategy. According to him, strategy accounts for only 5% of the challenge. The remaining 95% lies unequivocally in execution -aligning thousands of decisions, removing bottlenecks, and enabling every function to move at pace. This mindset resonates powerfully in IT leadership: bold visions are meaningless if delivery mechanisms are weak or siloed.

Total Access to Levers of Change

When Ghosn stepped into Nissan, he demanded one critical condition: the freedom to touch everything that affected performance. No sacred cows. No political off-limits. From cost structures to supplier contracts, manufacturing processes to cultural norms, every layer had to be available for redesign. This is precisely what many IT leaders struggle with today –being asked to “transform” with only partial control, while critical architecture, legacy systems, or budgetary levers remain untouchable.

A Personal Stake in Success

Perhaps the most striking part of Ghosn’s turnaround story is the personal accountability he imposed on himself and his leadership team. He publicly stated measurable objectives for years one, two, and three. If those targets were not met, he would resign –and his executive team with him. This wasn’t symbolic. It was a complete alignment of leadership commitment with organisational risk.

In IT transformation, we sometimes talk endlessly about “stakeholder buy-in” and “executive sponsorship.” Ghosn went further: he became the guarantee of success.

Key Lessons for IT Transformation Leaders, but not only…

Execution outweighs strategy. Clarity without delivery capability is useless. Leaders must have access to every lever that influences performance. Transformation cannot be partial. Accountability drives credibility. Real transformation requires visible personal commitment, not corporate rhetoric. Ghosn’s approach isn’t just a case study in automotive history; it’s a blueprint for any leader tasked with turning around complex, underperforming systems –including IT organisations when need be. Transformation isn’t about presenting vision decks. It’s about owning outcomes, removing constraints, and executing relentlessly.

Podcast: Legend – Carlos Ghosn
Podcast: Do It Your Self Generation – Carlos Ghosn