Many of us want the label of thought leader; however, the moniker isn't one that truly can be bestowed upon anyone.  It takes keen insight to see trends and play them out ahead of where things are presently.  This ability has been one that eludes many C-Suite executives (and managers/individual contributors) for many many many years.  It's tough to take the elements in play, evaluate their influences, and cast a new vision that inspires the troops and transforms companies and the market.  I basically regurgitated what you said, Mike...another way of saying, "I agree."