Losing Your North Star: What Gypsy Teaches Us About Change

This month I got to see one of those classic Broadway show that delivers the full package—glamorous costumes, show-stopping numbers, and performances so good they make your jaw drop— Gypsy.

Seriously, there’s no better bang for your buck right now when it comes to traditional Broadway spectacle. And while the legendary Audra McDonald is rightly getting top billing for her powerhouse performance as Rose, let’s be real—Joy Woods steals the show. But beyond the glittering production and powerhouse vocals, Gypsy is also a fascinating case study in change management.

Yep, you are not surprised to hear me say, “I go to Broadway and I find lessons in change management”. 

(You know I hate them, but… SPOILERS AHEAD!)

Because at its core, this musical is all about what happens when someone becomes so obsessed with their goal that they lose sight of why they started in the first place. Rose is the ultimate stage mom—a woman with a singular vision and enough drive to power the entire Broadway district. 

What could go wrong? She sets out to make her daughters stars, but in her relentless pursuit, she loses touch with her values, her relationships, and, ultimately, herself. And while she technically succeeds (twice!), it’s a classic case of a pyrrhic victory—she gets what she wanted, but at what cost?

Then, there’s Louise. Sweet, overlooked, shoved into the background Louise. The daughter who wasn’t supposed to be the star. Yet, as Rose clings desperately to an outdated dream, Louise adapts. While she may have never chosen this path, when she finds herself staring down her last remaining chance, she embraces change, reinvents herself, and emerges as Gypsy Rose Lee—confident, self-possessed, and thriving on her own terms. It didn’t happen overnight, but the foundation was laid as Louise quietly observed, recognized and corrected when she was wrong, and pushed herself to rise to the occasion when opportunity knocked.

Their parallel but opposite journeys offer some change take-aways for us:

• Adapt or get left behind. Rose refuses to evolve, and it costs her. Louise? She reads the room and pivots like a pro.

• Know your why. Rose was so focused on “making it” that she lost sight of what making it actually meant. Louise, on the other hand, finds a version of success that aligns with who she truly is.

• Holding on too tight can backfire. Rose’s attempts at an iron grip of control don’t just alienate people—it leaves her completely alone. Meanwhile, Louise learns to loosen up, take risks, and embrace the unknown.

  
  

Of course this show is a complex masterpiece that explores so many issues around identity, family, and ambition. At the heart of Gypsy is a lesson that’s as relevant in life as it is in business: success isn’t just about pushing forward at all costs. It’s about knowing when to change course, when to redefine your goals, and when to step into your own power. Rose may have had the ambition, but it was Louise who had the wisdom—and that’s why she’s the one who truly wins in the end.

What do you think? Have you ever had a “Rose moment” where you were pushing so hard for something that you lost sight of the bigger picture? Or a “Louise moment” where you finally stepped into your own? Drop your thoughts in the comments—I’d love to hear them!