In Moshe Rabeinu's rise to power there are two phrases that stand out. The first explains that he became "great" – ויגדל משה, meaning he had been appointed a leader in Pharaoh's house (Rashi). The second captures what he did in his moment of greatness – "he went to his brothers [fellow Jews] and saw their burdens" – וירא בסבלותם. What does it mean that he saw their burdens? Rashi says it means he put his "eyes and his heart to them in order to feel their pain." (Shemos 2:11, Rashi). For Moshe, being a leader wasn't about him, it was about his people.
Let's contrast this to the detached CEO who sits at the control panel in his corporate office separated by layers of authority from the people of his company. He has no contact with them. No relationship. He is not their true leader.
Moshe Rabeinu taught us what it is to be a Jewish leader; standing at the top is no excuse for not knowing who's at the bottom. Just the opposite, the leader is obligated to take responsibility for his people.
Today, Jews fill the seats of many leadership positions, and we must ask the question: are these real Jewish leaders or just leaders who happen to be Jewish?