Most of us have fallen for it: that $10 dress, the T-shirt “just in case,” those earrings that take a month to arrive, wrapped in more plastic than fabric. What comes quickly and cheaply... goes just as quickly.
The European Union—and several countries in Latin America—are beginning to place limits on giants such as Shein and Temu. Unfair competition, questionable labor practices, tons of waste. Nothing we didn't already know, but which we often sweep under the rug in exchange for easy bargains.
This isn't just about consumption. It's about leadership.
Because behind every cheap click there is a business model that devours itself. And whether we like it or not, those of us who have responsibility—as entrepreneurs, executives, leaders in our communities—set an example.
Leadership is not just about running a company. It is about demonstrating through actions what kind of prosperity we want to leave behind. Every decision we make—which supplier to work with, how to treat our people—speaks to who we are and what we stand for.
Cheap things are not only expensive, but sometimes they also reveal your true character.
Do we really want a market where ‘cheaper’ always wins, even if it costs jobs, ethics, and sustainability?
What kind of leadership mindset are we fostering when we normalize business models that do not care for their people, their value chain, or their communities?
“Leading today means understanding that the impact of every decision—what I buy, what I sell, how I produce it—is multiplied in the community. Ethics is a strategy for the future.”
When I work with women leaders, I see every day the power that a courageous decision has to inspire others.
That's why well-understood leadership is contagious: because it sets an example and builds the future.
So the next time you're tempted by a "no-questions-asked deal," remember: nobody gives us anything.
And every euro we invest — or fail to invest — is sowing the seeds for the economy, community, and job market of tomorrow.
Don't tell us there's no alternative, don't tell us that anything goes as long as it's profitable.
True leadership is sustained when we care about what we leave behind.