December 16, 2025

By Bob Muehlhauser

Director, International Churchill Society

Investing today for the leaders of tomorrow

For most of my career, I have lived in the world of Corporate & Investment Banking. The environment I worked in called for the ability to generate confidence and the courage to make decisions with imperfect information. It is perhaps no surprise, then, that I have always found Winston Churchill to be one of the most compelling figures in history. His leadership under extraordinary pressure—his ability to see the long game, to rally people with words and conviction, and to face adversity with both intellect and humor—remains an enduring lesson for each of us.

My connection to Churchill began long before my involvement with the International Churchill Society. As a student at Westminster College in Fulton, Missouri, I walked the same campus where Churchill delivered his famous “Iron Curtain” speech in 1946. Even then, I sensed that this small Midwestern college was connected to a moment that helped define the world order for generations. Recently, while standing in the Church of St. Mary the Virgin, Aldermanbury, at America’s National Churchill Museum at Westminster College—reconstructed stone by stone on Westminster’s campus from the ruins of London’s Blitz—I was struck by the tangible intersection of history, sacrifice, and renewal. It reminded me that leadership, when guided by moral courage, can literally rebuild the world.

Sir Winston’s insistence on preparation, his respect for history, his capacity for humor in the face of crisis, and his steadfast defense of democratic principles are all timeless attributes. Churchill teaches us that leadership is not about the absence of fear, but about the resolve to act despite it. He reminds us that ideas, well expressed and courageously defended, can change the course of nations.
Today, through the work of the International Churchill Society, I see those lessons being carried forward in remarkable ways. ICS is evolving from a fellowship of Churchill admirers into a global organization dedicated to awareness, scholarship, and the advancement of principled leadership. With new initiatives to expand academic fellowships and reach broader audiences, ICS is ensuring that Churchill’s wisdom remains relevant to future generations.

These efforts matter deeply. In an age when public discourse often favors speed over substance and noise over nuance, the example of Churchill’s disciplined thinking and moral clarity is sorely needed. Through programs like our podcast The End of the Beginning, the Finest Hour journal, and the Society’s outreach, we are promoting the kind of informed dialogue and historical awareness that strengthen free societies.

I am proud that my wife, Reggie, and I can play a small part in supporting this mission. We believe in the power of history and in the responsibility each of us has to help sustain the institutions that keep those lessons alive. Supporting ICS is not simply an act of preservation—it is an investment in the future. The students who win Churchill fellowships today, the young professionals who listen to our programs, and tomorrow’s leaders who will draw guidance from Churchill’s example will shape the world we leave behind.

The work of the International Churchill Society exemplifies that truth every day. I encourage others who value leadership, courage, and conviction to join us—to lend your voice, your engagement, and your support to this vital cause. Together, we can ensure that Churchill’s legacy continues to enlighten minds, embolden leaders, and remind the world that, in the darkest hours, resolve and reason still matter.