Silicon Valley is no stranger to disruption, but in November 2023, OpenAI’s biggest shake-up didn’t come from a breakthrough in artificial intelligence. It came from followers: OpenAI’s very own employees.
When OpenAI’s board abruptly fired CEO Sam Altman, the tech world was caught off guard. But what followed was even more remarkable: nearly 800 OpenAI employees publicly threatened to resign unless the board reinstated Altman and made sweeping changes. Within days, the board caved, Altman returned, and OpenAI’s workforce remained intact.
This moment wasn’t just a dramatic corporate saga—it was a powerful example of followership in action.
The Myth of the All-Powerful Leader
We often think of leadership as a one-way street: visionaries at the top, and followers carrying out the plan. But leadership is a relationship, and followers wield more power than they’re often given credit for.
In OpenAI’s case, employees weren’t passive spectators. They were active, engaged followers—critical thinkers who refused to be sidelined in a decision that would impact the company’s future. They used collective action as leverage, ultimately shaping the outcome in a way that even investors couldn’t.
Why This Matters for Business Leaders
This case isn’t just about OpenAI. It’s a leadership lesson:
Leaders can’t afford to ignore their followers. Decisions made in isolation can backfire when employees push back.
Organizational success depends on engaged, empowered employees who actively shape company culture and direction.
In an era of transparency and social media, internal disputes quickly become public—and public perception can influence outcomes.
Want to Learn More?
Sage Originals Business Cases recently published my student-focused, peer-reviewed business case on OpenAI’s leadership crisis, which includes teaching notes for educators looking to explore these dynamics in the classroom. If you’re interested in diving deeper into followership, leadership, and power in modern organizations, you can find the full case study here. Sage offers a free trial subscription for anyone interested.
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