Building a winning team is not just about hiring talented people – it’s about creating an environment where strengths align, roles are clear, and collaboration drives real progress. In "Unicorn Team: Nine Leadership Types to Launch Ideas with Speed & Success" by Jen Kem, the author makes a compelling case that even the best ideas will fail if they lack the right team to execute them. Ideas are only the starting point. What determines success is whether you can assemble a group of people who not only excel individually but complement each other’s strengths, creating a synergy that brings bold visions to life.
One of the most critical lessons from the book is that before you start building this so-called Unicorn Team, you need to determine whether your big idea is even worth pursuing. Many businesses chase ideas that sound exciting but lack real viability. According to Kem, most failures don’t happen because the ideas are bad; they happen because the ideas weren’t evaluated properly. This is where the Unicorn Innovation Model comes in, providing a structured process for vetting ideas through three stages: Visionize, Strategize, and Mobilize. Visionize is about defining the problem clearly. If your idea doesn’t solve a meaningful issue, it won’t last. Strategize ensures the idea has a viable market and practical implementation. Mobilize focuses on execution – can the idea deliver measurable results within a reasonable timeframe, like 100 days? If not, it’s likely to drain resources instead of generating growth. These three steps act as filters, ensuring that only strong ideas move forward.
Each stage of the Unicorn Innovation Model requires a different type of leader, and that’s where the concept of the Unicorn Team becomes essential. A Visionizer shines during the first stage, coming up with bold ideas and imagining possibilities others overlook. Visionizers ask big questions like 'What if?' and are often behind major disruptions, like the founders of Airbnb or DoorDash. They thrive on big-picture thinking and rapid decisions but struggle with follow-through. They need others to help turn their ideas into reality because without structure, their visions remain unfinished dreams.
Enter the Strategizers – the second type of Unicorn leader. They take those ambitious ideas and turn them into actionable plans. Strategizers connect the dots, ensuring that every step aligns with business goals and market realities. While Visionizers thrive on imagination, Strategizers excel in building systems and processes that make ideas executable. They’re the architects of success, often operating behind the scenes but playing a critical role in scaling businesses. However, they face challenges of their own, especially when Visionizers keep shifting priorities or when teams resist following structured plans.
Finally, we have the Mobilizers, the leaders who specialize in execution. They are the doers who make things happen. Without them, strategies remain on paper and visions never leave the whiteboard. Mobilizers are relentless in ensuring projects stay on track, systems run smoothly, and deadlines are met. They anticipate problems, streamline processes, and turn plans into measurable outcomes. Yet they can sometimes struggle with ambiguity and change, especially in environments where strategies pivot frequently. For Mobilizers, learning flexibility is key to thriving in dynamic teams.
While these three core roles are essential, most leaders aren’t purely one type. In fact, Jen Kem introduces nine hybrid leadership types that combine traits of Visionizers, Strategizers, and Mobilizers in different ways. These include leaders like The Legend, who pairs visionary thinking with strategic execution to transform industries, and The Mastermind, who blends creativity with meticulous planning, like Taylor Swift, who turned her music career into a global empire. There are also leaders like The Innovator, who turns vision into reality through hands-on effort, and The Creator, who scales personal craft into business success. Other archetypes include The Chief, The Guide, The Guru, The Sage, and The Specialist, each bringing a unique mix of abilities to the table.
Understanding these types is not about labeling people but about creating a balanced team. Too many Visionizers without enough Strategizers and Mobilizers can result in chaos – big ideas with no structure or execution. Too many Mobilizers without vision leads to stagnation. The magic happens when the right blend exists, allowing ideas to move fluidly from concept to strategy to execution. A well-composed Unicorn Team can adapt to challenges, scale efficiently, and sustain momentum even when conditions change.
Of course, building a Unicorn Team isn’t just about putting the right people together – it’s about aligning them and managing conflict effectively. Conflict is inevitable when strong personalities and different working styles collide. Visionizers want speed and bold moves, Strategizers want plans and analysis, and Mobilizers want order and clarity. If not managed well, these differences lead to bottlenecks and frustration. But when handled properly, this tension becomes a source of innovation. Kem suggests using the Visionize > Strategize > Mobilize framework during disagreements to ensure that decisions are made logically and efficiently rather than emotionally. Everyone needs to understand that their role matters and that trade-offs are part of the process. When conflict is embraced as a tool for better decision-making, teams move faster and perform at higher levels.
Another key insight from the book is about retention. Talented people have options. If you don’t create an environment where they feel valued, they’ll leave – and the cost of replacing them is enormous. Keeping top performers requires more than good salaries; it demands recognition, growth opportunities, and a culture where their contributions are seen and appreciated. Leaders must also be prepared for transitions. Sometimes a team member is ready to evolve into a new leadership type, moving from Mobilizer to Strategizer, or from Strategizer to Visionizer. Supporting this evolution keeps talent engaged and reduces turnover.
The book also addresses a common trap: confusing activity with progress. Teams often stay busy but fail to produce meaningful outcomes because they’re solving the wrong problems or clinging to ineffective strategies. The solution? Regularly reassessing whether your current path still makes sense and adjusting quickly when it doesn’t. Ownership plays a big role here. When mistakes happen, strong leaders own them and refocus the team on solutions rather than blame. This mindset fosters trust, agility, and long-term success.
Jen Kem’s framework is built around three foundational leadership archetypes: The Three Core Pillars as follows:
1. Visionizers – Big-idea dreamers motivated by possibilities.
2. Strategizers – Results-focused thinkers who plan and execute.
3. Mobilizers – Doers who thrive on achieving goals and completing tasks.
These foundational pillars combine across three dimensions to form nine distinct leadership configurations.
1. VV Visionizing Visionizer Pure idea generator, loves creative vision.
2. VS Visionizing Strategizer Driven by ideas and the strategy to implement them.
3. VM Visionizing Mobilizer Inspired by ideas and energized by doing the work.
4. SV Strategizing Visionizer Strategic thinker with a clear sense of vision.
5. SS Strategizing Strategizer Master planner; excels at making things happen effectively.
6. SM Strategizing Mobilizer Thinks strategically and loves seeing tasks through.
7. MV Mobilizing Visionizer Leads by demonstration - dreams and executes (e.g. Martha Stewart).
8. MS Mobilizing Strategizer Does first, thinks next: action-oriented with planning skills.
9. MM Mobilizing Mobilizer Reliable task-master - excels in consistent daily execution.
Visionizers bring the ideas.
Strategizers bring the planning power.
Mobilizers bring the execution energy.
Combined, they form nine unique leadership configurations (VV, VS, VM, SV, SS, SM, MV, MS, MM).
Jen Kem identifies herself as a SV (Strategizing Visionizer) - a leader who sees a bold vision and crafts strategy to bring it to life.
In the end, "Unicorn Team: Nine Leadership Types to Launch Ideas with Speed & Success" makes a simple but powerful argument: big ideas are nothing without the right people to execute them. A true Unicorn Team balances vision, strategy, and execution, leveraging diverse strengths to create something greater than any individual could achieve alone. When you align these roles, manage conflict constructively, and keep your top talent engaged, you unlock the power to turn bold ideas into lasting impact. The future belongs to those who understand that success is not a solo act – it’s a team performance, and the best teams are built with intention.