A Late Night Model of Modern Leadership
This isn’t about comedy. It’s about how one man made people in his orbit feel — and what that asks of the rest of us.
Many years ago, a nervous young intern stood at his cubicle at The Daily Show when Stephen Colbert walked past, stopped, and asked his name.
“Oh, I’m just an intern,” the young man said.
Colbert looked at him for a moment. “‘Just an intern’? Hey, look, everybody starts somewhere. I was just an understudy at one point, but that’s just a point in time. It’s not about where you are now, or even where you hope to go — it’s who you are that matters.” He put out his hand. “I’m Stephen. Who are you?”
They shook hands. “Don’t let your place in the world dictate who you are to anyone,” Colbert told him. “We all have the same merit.” And then he was gone — off to prep a new show — leaving behind a sentence that the intern, Devin Klos, would still be repeating decades later.
A simple yet powerful reminder of the importance of seeing and honoring the dignity in every person.
That is a small story. A hallway, a handshake, thirty seconds a busy man did not owe anyone. And it is precisely the kind of story now pouring out by the hundreds, because The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired its final episode on Thursday, having been cancelled by CBS under its new leadership.
I’ve watched late-night hosts leave before. I remember the maudlin farewell of Johnny Carson, the eternal cheekiness of David Letterman taking his bow. This is decidedly not that.
The cynical — and those predisposed to dislike late night hosts — may find it easy to dismiss them because of the style of humor, the targets of their jokes, or for some other reason. This essay is neither an encomium nor a critique of Colbert’s comedic hosting abilities; this is an assessment of the person and leader he is.
There are scores of stories and clips that make it clear the kind of person Stephen Colbert is, but another story and an assessment of his faith are enough demonstrate the character of the man.
“Leaders at every level are called to make a difference, and demonstrate that respect for all people is alive.”
— Frances Hesselbein, 20171
The Measure of the Man
“One of those folks who has a knack for making everyone feel special and his presence is a gift.”
The comedian and production assistant Noel Casler was working backstage at Night of Too Many Stars in 2017 when a talented young performer on the autism spectrum sat down to play piano. A miscue sent confetti drifting down at the wrong moment; rattled, she stopped.
Producers huddled at the monitors, frozen — cut the segment, or risk the moment.
As Casler recounted it, Colbert said:
“I got this guys” and walked out onto stage, sat with her at her piano and comforted her and conveyed how much he alone wanted to see her play.
He reassured and comforted her, saying, “Do the song as if you’re just playing for a friend, never mind the distractions, I know it’s scary but I’m right here with you”
She played wonderfully and in that moment in my eyes you saw the measure of the man, a father, a friend, a fellow performer reminding us all why we were really here and what truly matters in this life: love and humility and lifting each other up.
Love and humility. That’s it, right there. The call to care about each other, serve with humility, and support each other.
Incidentally that’s what Our Working Together™️Leadership and Management System is all about.
A Model of Leadership
Fr. James Martin, a Jesuit priest, editor at large at America Media, and consultor for the Dicastery for Communication, shared some observations about Stephen Colbert’s unabashed expression of his Catholic faith in a recent column.2
They reveal not just a man of faith, but a blueprint for resilient, intelligent leadership in any field. Colbert’s approach blends intellect, empathy, and humor — qualities that make him a compelling communicator and a trusted public figure.
He Unites Intellect and Authenticity
Colbert’s ability to think critically while staying grounded shows that strong leaders don’t have to choose between being smart and being relatable. He dismantles the stereotype that intellect must come at the expense of emotional connection.
He Leads Through Resilience
Having endured profound personal loss, Colbert demonstrates that adversity can deepen perspective rather than diminish it. His strength lies in transforming pain into empathy — a hallmark of leaders who inspire trust and stability.
He Is a Gifted Storyteller
Like great teachers and visionaries, Colbert uses storytelling and humor to make complex ideas accessible. Leaders who can translate insight into narrative move hearts as well as minds.
He Models Vulnerability
By speaking openly about doubt and growth, Colbert shows that transparency builds credibility. Leaders who admit uncertainty invite collaboration and foster psychological safety.
He Grounds Action in Values
Colbert’s humor often targets social issues, reflecting a moral compass that guides his work. Effective leaders act from principle, ensuring their influence uplifts rather than exploits.
Stephen Colbert has made it abundantly clear over the years through his actions meeting his words: he treats people around him with care, dignity, and generosity; he leads with kindness, joy, and love; he demonstrates his faith, integrity, and sense of humor.
Watch what Stephen Colbert tells Dua Lipa about the intersection of his faith and comedy (forgive the typos in the auto-captions):
Who Are You?
It is easy to admire Stephen Colbert from a distance and call it a day. It is harder to notice that the moment everyone keeps retelling — the one that made a grown man remember him for decades — cost Colbert almost nothing. A pause. A name asked and remembered. A hand extended to someone with no power to advance his career.
Leadership is not the chair you sit in. It is made up of hundreds of little things, like whether you stop in the hallway.
There is, somewhere in your orbit right now, a “just an intern” — someone convinced that their place in the world is the same thing as their worth. You will pass them today.
The way you treat them will answer the same question that Colbert asked:
Who are you?
There’s so much to learn,
Further Reading:
“Stephen Colbert: Thank you.” — John Dickerson adds a poignant tribute.
“Unending Grief” — We need to thrive, not just to endure. And for that we need each other.
“Dignity, Inclusivity, and Unity” — Working Together™️ requires valuing everyone.
“Vulnerability and Leadership” — It takes real strength to be vulnerable.
“Who Among Us?” — Servant leadership asks more of us.
“A Commitment to Equal Access, Diversity, and Inclusion,” Frances Hesselbein, Leader to Leader, No. 85, Summer 2017
“What makes Stephen Colbert one of today’s best Catholic evangelists,” Fr. James Martin, SJ, America Magazine, May 20, 2026
Really nice assessment and nice clip about Colbert's comedy and his faith. Last night after being defeated in a long trial that will not result in the protection needed, I watched the last Colbert show at my husband's request. It was "salve for the Soul' that lifted my spirits measurably. A philosopher named Verene wrote that the cure for the technological society is laughter. I so agree and likely still have that old college paper where I wrote about that. The comedians and musicians are in saving professions. The quote I wrote down from Colbert's last show is: that he liked to think his show "feels the news with you." I also wrote the mission matters. I have to admit one of my favorite quotes was when he recited how many people ask him what he will do next. His answer was Drugs. Such a great sense of humor!