Each spring at Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business, one classroom shifts from traditional lectures to something far more imaginative. Instead of relying solely on case studies, students analyze the year’s standout films – and the messages they offer about what it means to be a great leader.
Over the past four years, McDonough professor Bob Bies has hosted his annual showcase through a series called the “Bobscars.” Timed with the annual Academy Awards, the event has become a tradition students look forward to each year. Many of the selected films are already widely popular, but Bies has found that discussing them opens the door to deeper conversations about what real leadership looks like.
Bies has long had a knack for uncovering leadership lessons through film. If you’ve followed his recent “Ask Your Professor” series – including reflections on the heroes and villains of Wicked – you’ve already seen how he approaches leadership.
WINNER: LEADERSHIP & ENTREPRENEURSHIP CATEGORY
Taking home the first award in the Leadership and Entrepreneurship category was Nonnas, a film based on a true story.
“That’s Italian for grandmothers,” Bies notes.
The main character, Joe Scaravella, opens a Staten Island restaurant staffed entirely by grandmothers from around the world after the loss of his mother.
Bies is drawn to the entrepreneurial grit at the heart of the story. Few believed in Scaravella’s idea, but he persisted and brought it to life anyway.
“Passion gets you started, but persistence gets you noticed,” Bies says.
A glowing review ultimately changes everything for Scaravella. The leadership lessons center on creating a supportive environment, repairing relationships, and celebrating small wins.
That last point matters, Bies adds: “Sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference.”
Nonnas reminds business students that resilience isn’t always glamorous – but it is often essential.
WINNER: BUILD TRUST & EMPOWER CATEGORY
Next, Bies selected Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning as this year’s Build Trust and Empower winner.
“This movie is all about building trust, leading with purpose, and being able to pivot,” he says. “Trust is one of the recurring themes. You can’t do it alone, and you won’t do it alone.”
Ethan Hunt’s team succeeds not because he is the strongest, but because he empowers people with different skill sets, listens to them, and adapts under pressure – a critical lesson for business students.
“Leaders must be able to pivot, especially in a world shaped by AI,” Bies says.
Hunt’s focus on confronting an AI-driven threat mirrors the clarity leaders need when navigating technological disruption. Perhaps most importantly, the team repeatedly chooses people – their team – over the mission.
WINNER: INTEGRITY & KINDNESS CATEGORY
The winner in the Integrity & Kindness category was Superman. While it may seem like an unexpected pick, Bies argues it belongs in any serious conversation about integrity.
“Superman’s superpower wasn’t what you think,” he says. “He was humble – he was a person of integrity.”
Superman succeeds not through brute force but through thoughtfulness.
“Brains beat brawn,” Bies says.
He listens, adapts, and makes deliberate choices – qualities that matter far more in leadership than raw strength. Like the other heroes in this year’s lineup, he doesn’t act alone.
“He had the justice gang to help him out,” Bies says.
The film’s moral center, he adds, comes from Pa Kent’s reminder: “Your choices, your actions – that’s what makes you who you are.”
Here, leadership is not about being the hero, but about choosing integrity again and again.
WINNER: COURAGE & MORAL LEADERSHIP CATEGORY
The final Bobscars winner is Wicked: For Good, which takes the Courage & Moral Leadership category.
The story, Bies explains, is about finding the courage to stand up for what is right – even when it’s difficult. Glinda’s journey is especially powerful.
“She begins as someone who needs to be liked and admired,” Bies says. “Much like the Wizard himself. But unlike him, she grows.”
Over time, Glinda recognizes the dangers of passive leadership and comes to understand that leadership isn’t about being adored – it’s about doing what is right.
Her transformation is marked by humility, remorse, and ultimately redemption.
“She learns from her mistakes, embraces humility, and makes the courageous choice to help guide her community onto a better path,” Bies says.
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