'I don't think heroic leadership will deliver what has to be done,' says Deborah Cadman, chief executive of the West Midlands Combined Authority. She is an advocate of a new era of post-heroic leaders – and a prime example of what strong modern leadership is.

Gone are the days of the heroic leader, she explains – the command and control managerial model where you instruct staff and they follow. ‘Post-heroic leadership has come about because people understand it's not the best way to work within the system. It's no longer about: "I am the hero in my organisation"; it's actually now: "I am a player in the system around the place". And that's an acute difference.'