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 Cindy Whitehead, Jack Bogle, Julie Wainwright, Scott Tariff, and Gavin Armstrong.

From Adam Bryant: Cindy Whitehead: No Nickname? Just Leave That to Me

“I learned to speak up. I talk to a lot of women about that today. They often use all these qualifiers — the apology before they ask a question, or they’ll say, ‘Can I ask a question?’ You just did. Ask the question. I learned to push myself out of my comfort zone, because if I had something to say and didn’t say it, I would stew on it.”

From Chris Taylor: Q&A: What keeps Vanguard founder Jack Bogle ticking

“If the world of finance has anything close to a Pope, Jack Bogle is probably it. The founder of investment giant Vanguard Group, who is held in wide esteem, revolutionized retirement with low-fee index funds, and has a moral center that puts the rest of the industry to shame. Rather than enriching himself and his firm with billions of dollars as he could have done, Bogle passed along savings to the retirement accounts of individual investors.”

From Michelle Quinn: From Pets.com’s sock puppet to lightly worn Prada, CEO makes a comeback

“People said she was the biggest joke in the valley. Her company was deemed ‘stupid.’ As for her career? She wondered if it was over. It’s been 16 years since Julie Wainwright shut down Pets.com, the online pet supply store that remains the symbol of dot-com era excess. ‘I wallowed way too long,’ she said. ‘Then you get tired of yourself.’”

From Jennifer Pellet: Eagle Pharmaceuticals CEO Scott Tariff Talks about Staying the Course

“Riddled with bunkers, the path of a startup drug company demands perseverance and adaptability.”

From Nina Ziplin: This CEO Has Helped Thousands and He’s Just Getting Started

“Lucky Iron Fish Founder Gavin Armstrong wants to do his part to eradicate hunger and iron deficiency all over the world.”