I think that one of the best ways to learn leadership isn’t studying “leadership” at all. Instead, study individual leaders in their natural habitat and decide what they do that you want to try. Articles by and about leaders and interviews with them are mini-case studies that show you an actual leader in a real situation.

That’s why, every week, I bring you a selection of post about individual leaders. This week I’m pointing you to pieces by and about Andrew N. Liveris, Sergio Marchionne, Lance Uggla, Lori Senecal, and Max Yoder.

From McKinsey & Company: How Dow reinvented itself

“Dow has worked to rebuild itself as an agile, innovative organization with a major focus on the customer value chain. In this interview, with McKinsey’s Rik Kirkland, president, chairman, and chief executive officer Andrew N. Liveris describes the company’s evolution, including how Dow has dramatically reduced the average age of the organization’s workforce, fostered a culture that resembles a start-up, and shifted its portfolio to value-added markets. An edited transcript of Liveris’s remarks follows.”

From Bill Vlasic: Detroit’s Chief Instigator

“Sergio Marchionne, chief executive of Fiat Chrysler, has an ambitious plan to save the auto industry. And he can’t seem to sell it.”

From Eric Reguly: Lance Uggla, Markit’s $10-billion man, is halfway there

“Seven years ago, when I last interviewed Lance Uggla, I found him cocky, almost overbearing, even if I loved his energy and enthusiasm. The Canadian founder and chief executive officer of Markit Ltd., the financial information and services company that is often (though not quite accurately) described as the next Bloomberg or Thomson Reuters, was pumped up by Markit’s success and was predicting glories to come.”

From Adam Bryant: Lori Senecal on Coaching When the Bar Is High

“The global chief executive of the ad agency C.P.&B. and chief executive of the MDC Partner Network discusses how coaching gymnastics prepared her for leadership.”

From Leisa Richardson: Could Lesson.ly’s Max Yoder be the next tech star?

“While the comparisons are debatable, what Yoder and Lesson.ly have achieved in one year is not. Revenue has grown 850 percent, staffing has gone from four huddled around one table to a room of 15, $1.1 million in financing has been secured from mostly angel investors, and a client list that began at six has blossomed to 120.”