User blog comment:ChukleBrotherz/Heading to RTX and questions for the RWBY Panel/@comment-25396609-20150805005523/@comment-12.27.66.8-20150805203913

I think the leaders are chosen in attempt to spur immediate conflict within the group which the leader must then resolve.

Ruby is young and inexperienced by comparison to her other teammates (Yes, Weiss is technically inexperienced but she's older) and, as such, the conflict lies in the team's ability to trust her methods and instincts.

Jaune is, of course, inexperienced all around and, while this does not immediately prove troublesome to his group, his own insecurities serve to stir conflict when the team begins to approach him and offer help.

Cardin is the only one who likely crushed out any conflict among his group. Naturally, the conflict would arise from the fact that he's an a-hole, but he just uses his imposing stature to force the others to conform to his behavior. So they act like a-holes too. But we already know that at least Russel and Dove are better fighters than Cardin and Dove and conflict may well be around the corner if either ever grows a spine.

As for Coco... maybe she's handsy.