It's also important to keep in mind that everyone has various interests and goals, so a leader who appeals to one individual may not be the ideal choice for another. I believe it's critical that each person evaluates the traits they value in a leader for themselves and looks for individuals who share those beliefs.
Also, this point makes absolute sense, as only then can one identify who his/her leader is.
No matter how far one has gone in life, someone at some point was instrumental in pushing or giving the nudge that one required to move up. While we may not really call the person a leader, whatever principles we adopted or hoped to learn for our betterment from such person, made that person sort of a leader.
It depends on what qualities or vision we see in the person we hold in esteem as a leader, and if our interests do align. So I gathered.
Recognizing that our interests play a role in influencing the leaders we choose to follow is equally important. For instance, a follower who is passionate about environmental issues may look up to a leader who is working hard to find answers to the problem of climate change. In a similar vein, anyone curious about cryptocurrencies might seek advice from an established expert in the field (or on Bitcointalk).
A leader does not have to be perfect, and we should be willing to grow and change with them at all times. I appreciate you taking the time to respond to my message and add to this fantastic conversation.