Leadership Lessons from Comuna 13: From Conflict to Collective Creation

Last week, I stood at the top of the escalators in Comuna 13, looking down on a hillside once synonymous with violence, fear, and isolation. What I saw instead was a kaleidoscope of murals, music, movement—and hope.

It’s hard to believe this was once the most dangerous neighborhood in Medellín, perhaps in the world. A place where armed conflict between drug cartels, paramilitary groups, and guerrillas claimed the streets—and the futures—of its residents. But today, Comuna 13 is a living case study in radical transformation. And beneath the vibrant street art and the rhythmic pulse of hip-hop, I found profound leadership lessons etched into the walls—and into the hearts of the people.

Lesson 1: Context is King

To truly understand the miracle of Comuna 13, you have to understand the context. This community was born from displacement—rural families forced into the mountainside by Colombia’s civil conflict. With no infrastructure, no support, and no safety, Comuna 13 became a breeding ground for crime out of necessity, not choice. By the early 2000s, the Colombian government launched military interventions like Operación Orión—a strategy that quelled some violence but at a deep human cost.

What changed wasn’t just policing. It was a shift in understanding. Leadership began to emerge from within the community. Youth groups, artists, mothers, activists—they contextualized their pain and reclaimed their narrative. They didn't wait for someone to save them. They became the architects of their own transformation.

Takeaway: Leaders must understand the full context—past, present, and systemic—before attempting to change anything. Without context, you’re not leading. You’re imposing.

Lesson 2: Empower the Margins

What struck me most was not the murals or the performances, but the pride of the young tour guides—most of them born during the violence. They now lead groups from all over the world through the streets their parents once feared to walk. They are historians, entrepreneurs, and ambassadors of resilience.

Comuna 13 proves that when you empower people who have been pushed to the margins, you don’t just create change—you unlock genius.

The city’s investment in public escalators, outdoor gyms, and community spaces didn’t solve the problems. It signaled that this community was worth investing in. That signal, combined with local ownership, created an unstoppable wave of creative energy.

Takeaway: Sustainable leadership starts by shifting power—not hoarding it. Invest where the pain is, and trust that the people closest to the problem are also closest to the solution.

Lesson 3: Art is a Strategic Asset

In corporate spaces, we often undervalue creativity—until we need a marketing campaign. In Comuna 13, art was not an accessory. It was the antidote.

Graffiti became both protest and prophecy. It told the truth when the media wouldn’t. It celebrated heroes, mourned the lost, and imagined futures far brighter than the past. Art here is not decoration—it’s declaration.

Similarly, the rise of hip-hop and dance culture gave voice to a generation that had every reason to be silent. Expression became survival. And over time, survival became success.

Takeaway: Don’t treat culture as fluff. It’s the core of change. Leaders who elevate artistic expression as a channel for healing and innovation unlock the deepest wells of human potential.

Lesson 4: Healing Is a Team Sport

Comuna 13 didn’t change because of one person. It changed because enough people aligned on a new vision—and walked toward it together. Local leaders built coalitions across sectors. Young people were mentored, not dismissed.

Elders were listened to. Tourists became allies. It was collective leadership, not command-and-control.

There is no shortcut for this kind of healing. It requires conversation, co-creation, and consistent investment in trust. The trauma here didn’t disappear.

But it was metabolized into something powerful—a culture of progress.

Takeaway: Real leadership isn’t about being the hero. It’s about building communities that can heal, grow, and lead themselves.

From Conflict to Creation

What Comuna 13 taught me is that no team, no culture, no community is beyond redemption. The ingredients are always the same: context, courage, creativity, and collaboration.

If a hillside once ravaged by warfare can become a beacon of art and inspiration, what’s possible in our boardrooms, classrooms, and neighborhoods?

The story of Comuna 13 isn’t just Colombia’s story. It’s a human story. It’s a leadership story. And it’s one we must keep telling—until transformation is no longer the exception, but the expectation.

Omar L. Harris is a bestselling author, global leadership expert, and the visionary founder of Intent Consulting. With over two decades of executive experience across four continents, Omar is on a mission to revolutionize the way organizations lead—with more character, compassion, and clarity.

At Intent Consulting, we don’t just advise—we activate. Our proprietary frameworks help organizations hire, coach, and lead high-performance teams from the inside out. From psychometric assessments to executive coaching and culture transformation, we equip leaders to build organizations where purpose, people, and performance align.