You might have the world's best business idea, money, power and wisdom, but if you don't have three particular personality traits you won't be transformative, according to Malcolm Gladwell, a best-selling author of books that include The Tipping Point.

Speaking at the Telstra Vantage event in Melbourne on Wednesday, The New Yorker writer, author and thinker, Mr Gladwell told the audience that the most transformative business leaders all had three traits in common: creative, conscientious and disagreeable.