Developing into a "deep generalist" is a fundamental part of the journey to becoming a trusted advisor to senior executives. One of the most accomplished deep generalists in history was Leonardo Da Vinci. Arguably, he was history's first management consultant.

In this article, I want to share with you some of the details about Leonardo's life and career that make him such an exemplar for modern professionals. Checklists of tactics and techniques are useful, but once in a while it's rewarding to look at some of the great minds in history.

In 1481, at the age of thirty, the Italian artist Leonardo Da Vinci left Florence and moved to Milan in search of a client. While living in Florence, he had completed his apprenticeship to Andrea Verrocchio and established his early reputation as a brilliant and original painter.

Florence had an abundance of artistic talent, however, and the competition for clients - wealthy rulers or noblemen who could afford to give out commissions for works of art - was intense.

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