Is not leadership just a recipe for self-interest?

I don’t think so. Maybe some seek leadership for selfish reasons like money or power and in that case they become leaders for self-interest, but not all leaders are like that. Some people seek leadership for many other reason than self-interest for example some become leaders to try and solve community problems and hence help the community evolve. A good example of leadership that is not for self-interest are the leaders and creators of non profit organizations, these leaders spend their time and energy in working towards a cause that doesn’t give them anything in return, they do it just to help their cause.