Phronesis: Practical Wisdom for Leaders

Send us a text Sabina Nawaz is the author of YOU’RE THE BOSS: Become the Manager You Want to Be (and Others Need) and an elite executive coach who advises C-level executives and teams at Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and academic institutions around the world. Sabina routinely gives speeches each year and teaches faculty at Northeastern and Drexel Universities. During her fourteen-year tenure at Microsoft, she went from managing software development teams to leading the company’s executive development and succession planning efforts for over 11,000 managers and nearly a thousand executives, advising Bill Gates and Steve Ballmer directly. She has written for and been featured in Harvard Business Review, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, Inc., Fast Company, NBC, Nasdaq, and MarketWatch. A  Few Quotes From This Episode “It’s not power that corrupts. It’s pressure.” “As our job expands, the added pressure to perform corrupts our actions, and our increased power will blind us to the impact of those actions.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode Book: You’re the Boss: Become the Manager You Want to Be and Others Need by Sabina Nawaz Forbes Article: “Under Pressure: Why Stress, Not Power, Corrupts Leadership Actions” by Sabina Nawaz on Forbes Book: Creative Acts for Curious People by Sarah Stein Greenberg About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership.  About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Sunil Puri is a thought leader with over two decades of experience in leadership development, sustainability, and data analytics. Currently serving as the head of research and engagement at the Stewardship Asia Centre (SAC) in Singapore. A  Few Quotes From This Episode "Most leadership decisions today are not either or. They are both/and." “Doing well by doing good. If it's doing well and doing good, then doing good becomes an afterthought.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode Book: Grow the Pie by Alex Edmans Book: Autobiography of a Yogi by Paramahansa Yogananda About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership.  About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Dr. Hsien-Hsien Lei is Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of The American Chamber of Commerce (AmCham) in Singapore — the largest and the most active international business association in Singapore and Southeast Asia representing over 650 companies. Hsien is also Adjunct Associate Professor at the National University of Singapore Saw Swee Hock School of Public Health, member of the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health’s Advisory Board, Vice President of the Precision Public Health Asia Society, board member and fundraising committee chair of TalentTrust, board committee member of SATA CommHealth and advisory committee member at the Singapore University of Social Sciences School of Business. A  Quote From This Episode "The truth is Singapore itself is a very small market…And yet its influence and its ability to do more for the rest of the world is really impressive.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode Book: Any Dumb-Ass Can Do It: Learning Moments from an Everyday CEO of a Multi-Billion-Dollar Company, Garry Ridge & Martha Finney.  Book: Helping People Win at Work: A Business Philosophy Called “Don’t Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A by Garry Ridge & Ken Blanchard. About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership.  About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Jonathan Reams, PhD, is currently doing action research projects exploring how to scale micro-skill development for habituating core leadership practices. He approaches this work drawing on experiences from holding a position at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) from 2007 until 2024, serving as editor-in-chief of Integral Review from 2005 to 2023, and being chief creative officer at the Center for Transformative Leadership and Adeptify. A  Few Quotes From This Episode "Life will teach you better. The curriculum is all around you.” “If your inner weather is turbulent, others can feel it. You can’t hide your state of being.” “Leadership starts with regulating your own noise so you can notice the needs of others.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode Article: Amal and Berndt’s paper on the knowing–doing gap Edgar H. Schein: Helping: How to Offer Give and Receive Help Dynamic Skill Theory – Kurt Fischer Book: BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits Book: James Clear’s Atomic Habits Book: Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey’s Immunity to Change About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership.  About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Jonathan Reams, PhD, is currently doing action research projects exploring how to scale micro-skill development for habituating core leadership practices. He approaches this work drawing on experiences from holding a position at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) from 2007 until 2024, serving as editor-in-chief of Integral Review from 2005 to 2023, and being chief creative officer at the Center for Transformative Leadership and Adeptify. A  Few Quotes From This Episode "Leadership isn’t about position—it’s about behavior in the moment.” “We need proprioception of thought—awareness of our thinking as it arises.” “The feeling of being time-starved is an interpretation, not a fact.” “It’s not about a thousand skills to master; it’s about cultivating processes for clean thinking and wise action.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode Article: Amal and Berndt’s paper on the knowing–doing gap Center for Creative Leadership’s DAC model Dynamic Skill Theory – Kurt Fischer David Bohm’s work on the proprioception of thought David Wagoner’s poem Lost Book: BJ Fogg’s Tiny Habits Book: James Clear’s Atomic Habits Book: Robert Kegan and Lisa Lahey’s Immunity to Change Book: Daniel Coyle’s The Talent Code About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Jonathan Reams, PhD, is currently doing action research projects exploring how to scale micro-skill development for habituating core leadership practices. He approaches this work drawing on experiences from holding a position at the Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU) from 2007 until 2024, serving as editor-in-chief of Integral Review from 2005 to 2023, and being chief creative officer at the Center for Transformative Leadership and Adeptify. A  Few Quotes From This Episode "You may think your inner state is invisible, but you can’t hide it.” “The success of the intervention is primarily due to the interior condition of the intervener.” “Resilience isn’t about bouncing back to normal—it’s about expanding your capacity.” “Leaders create the weather. Your energy is the signal everyone else reads first.” “Knowing about something isn’t the same as learning how to do it.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode Article: Amal and Berndt’s paper on the knowing–doing gap Book: An Everyone Culture by Kegan and Lahey Book: The Outward Mindset by The Arbinger Institute Book: Theory U by Otto Scharmer Organization: HeartMath Institute Tool: MindLog by Theo Dawson About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text John Dailey – A high school diving coach for more than 45 years, John is known for his infectious energy, big-hearted mentorship, and focus on building confidence and resilience in young athletes. Chris Whritenour – A trailblazing coach and former University of Minnesota diver (and its first female coach). Chris broke barriers as one of the first women to sign a collegiate athletic letter of intent and has spent decades inspiring divers (especially young women) to believe in their own strength. Dennis Pluth – A passionate former diver and coach for nearly two decades, Dennis blends tough love with deep care, challenging athletes to take ownership of their growth while celebrating the lifelong community the sport creates. Bret Beecher – A lifelong coach who began at 15 and has led athletes from high school to collegiate levels, Bret treasures the long-term relationships with his divers and the joy of watching them grow into confident, accomplished adults. Quotes From This Episode "Diving is 85% mental, 15% physical—we spend an awful lot of time running around inside these kids’ heads.” — John Dailey “You can tell when someone’s genuine, just by showing up every day and making them believe they can.” — Chris Whritenour “Diving accepted me for who I am." — Dennis Pluth “Whether you finish in last place or first place, the kids will never forget the experience they had from their coaches and teammates.” — Bret Beecher About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Nicole Ferry is a tenure-track assistant professor at Copenhagen Business School. Drawing on her background in cultural studies and critical theory, her research examines the ideological and gendered discourses of leadership and leadership development across diverse contexts.  She has published in Journal of Business Ethics, Leadership, Management Learning, Gender, Work and Organization, and Academy of Management Learning & Education. Her current work explores the competitive and cultural dynamics of the leadership industries, as well as contemporary approaches to gender-based leadership development. Quotes From This Episode “If men don’t connect personal identity work to gender and power, we won’t achieve equity.” “It’s a privilege not to have to think about how your gender shapes your leadership.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode Article: Men’s Leadership Development: A Framework for Advancing Gender Equity in Leadership Development Television: Adolescence Television: Men Film: Coherence  Television: The Bear About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Scott Ritzheimer has helped start nearly 20,000 new businesses and nonprofits, and with his business partner started and led their multimillion-dollar business through an exceptional and extended growth phase (over 10 years of double-digit growth all before he turned 35.  He founded Scale Architects to help businesses across the country identify the right growth strategies and find the right guides to get them on the fast track to Predictable Success and stay there as long as possible. He now travels across the country to speak to and consult with founders, CEOs, and their teams to help them not only grow but scale their businesses and do it all without the hustle. Quotes From This Episode “The problem isn’t a lack of information; it’s knowing which information to act on right now.” "Pulling lessons from your future into your present only adds weight and slows you down.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode Book: The Founder’s Evolution by Ritzheimer Framework: Gretchen Rubin’s Four Tendencies  About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Dr. Jonathan W. White is a professor of American Studies at Christopher Newport University. He is the author or editor of 17 books covering various topics, including civil liberties during the Civil War, the USS Monitor and the Battle of Hampton Roads, the presidential election of 1864, and what Abraham Lincoln and soldiers dreamt about. Among his awards are the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia’s Outstanding Faculty Award (2019), CNU’s Alumni Society Award for Teaching and Mentoring (2016), the Abraham Lincoln Institute Book Prize (2015), and the University of Maryland Alumni Excellence Award in Research (2024). His recent books include A House Built By Slaves: African American Visitors to the Lincoln White House (2022), which was co-winner of the Gilder Lehrman Lincoln Prize (with Jon Meacham); Shipwrecked: A True Civil War Story of Mutinies, Jailbreaks, Blockade-Running, and the Slave Trade (2023); Final Resting Places: Reflections on the Meaning of Civil War Graves (2023); and an exciting new children’s book, My Day with Abe Lincoln (2024). A Quote From This Episode "Viewed from the abolition ground, Lincoln seemed tardy, cold, dull; but measured by his country, he was swift, zealous, radical, and determined.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode Book: Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham Lincoln Article: Flag burning has a long history in the U.S. — and legal protections from the Supreme Court About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Dr. Wayne E. Mayer, CEO of When Everything Matters (WEMCo), is a Strategic Sustainability Consultant who advises global companies, governments, and non-profits. He helps organizations transform business models into authentic Sustainable Development partnerships. He brings over 20 years’ experience designing and leading Corporate Sustainability. Dr. Mayer helps clients embed Sustainability into governance, culture, and leadership. He works across industries and offers extensive involvement in the mining sector.  His approach tethers company practices to megatrends and positions companies as leaders in Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) practices. Dr. Mayer also works as a Duke Corporate Education Educator and serves as a Senior Fellow at the Duke University Center for International Development, and has taught for the Duke Environmental Leadership and Business & Environment programs. He also teaches graduate courses for the University of Denver’s Environmental Policy & Management and Global Community Engagement programs. A Quote From This Episode “Sustainability is really a mindset as opposed to a department.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode  📗 Firms of Endearment by Sisodia 📗 Full Spectrum Thinking by Johansen 📗 The Man Who Broke Capitalism by Gelles  📗 The War Below by Scheyder 📗 Ingrained by Robinson About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Jennifer Garvey Berger designs and teaches leadership programs, coaches senior leaders and their teams, and supports new ways of thinking about strategy and people. In her four highly acclaimed books, Unleash Your Complexity Genius (co-authored with Carolyn Coughlin), Unlocking Leadership Mindtraps, Simple Habits for Complex Times (co-authored with Keith Johnston), and Changing on the Job, Jennifer builds on deep theoretical knowledge to offer practical ways to make leaders’ organizations more successful, their work more meaningful, and their lives more gratifying. Jennifer has worked with senior leaders in the private, non-profit, and government sectors worldwide (like Novartis, Google, KPMG, Intel, Microsoft, Wikimedia, and the New Zealand Department of Conservation). Jennifer is a co-founder and CEO of Cultivating Leadership. She has a masters and a doctorate from Harvard University. Formerly an associate professor at George Mason University, Jennifer learned about deep change more than a decade ago when she turned down the tenure offer and moved to a small seaside village in New Zealand with her husband, two kids, and the family dog. While she still considers herself a Kiwi by choice, you can find her in the French countryside, where she has bought a house with eleven friends who live in community and try to keep the dog from terrifying the cats. A Quote From This Episode “My job is to admire that meaning system and hold space for that meaning system to grow a little bit. My job is not to fix it…” Resources Mentioned in This Episode  📗 Changing on the Job (Second Edition) by Jennifer Garvey-Berger 📗 Everyday Habits for Transforming Systems by Adam Kahane About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Cathy Carroll learned about family business leadership the best way you can – by leading her family business. After a twenty-year corporate career, she left United Airlines to lead her father’s business and instantly recognized a difference between leadership in a family business vs leadership in a large corporation.   Founder and President of Legacy Onward, Inc., Cathy Carroll is a family business leadership coach and author of Hug of War: How to Lead a Family Business With both Love and Logic. She also trains advisors serving in family enterprises, as well as coaches who maintain their credentials with the International Coaching Federation. Cathy earned certificates in both Leadership Coaching and Executive Facilitation at Georgetown University, an MBA at the University of Chicago Booth School of Business, and a BA at Boston College.  She is also a Professional Certified Coach (PCC) in the ICF. An active member of the community, Cathy currently serves as Vice-Chair the Board of the Purposeful Planning Institute and co-founder & Treasurer of A Leg To Stand On which provides prosthetic limbs to children in developing countries.  A Few Quotes From This Episode “I have to get comfortable with disappointing people. That’s my growth edge as a leader.” “A polarity is like breathing — you can't inhale without exhaling. In leadership, you need both.” “An overused strength becomes your biggest liability.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode  📗 Hug of War: How to Lead a Family Business With Both Love and Logic 📗 Polarity Management by Johnson 📗 Plant Intelligence and the Imaginal Realm by Buhner 🎬 Key & Peele’s Luther the Anger Translator About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Dr. Amal Ahmadi is an Associate Professor and Program Coordinator at the College of Business and Management, American University of Bahrain. She holds a PhD in management from Henley Business School. Her research focuses on leadership and leadership development, and currently revolves around investigating cognitive, affective, and behavioral mechanisms surrounding leadership and leadership development. Dr. Bernd Vogel is a professor in leadership and the founding director of the Henley Centre for Leadership, Henley Business School, University of Reading, UK. He holds a PhD in Management from Leibniz University Hanover. His expertise is in strategic leadership to mobilize and maintain energy in organizations, multi-level leadership, leading transformations, culture and change, and the future of leadership and leadership development. A Few Quotes From This Episode “Leadership programs give you a platter of fruit; the real work is choosing what to eat and when.” “Structured reflection shouldn’t be optional; it has to be part of our day-to-day.” “There’s a dormant, inactive capacity in managers that just sits there if we don’t create space for it to breathe.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode  Book: The Knowing-Doing Gap by Pfeffer & Sutton  Book: Professionalizing Leadership by Kellerman Book: The Nazi Mind by Rees  Podcast: How to Fail with Elizabeth Day Organization: Inner Development Goals initiative  About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Dr. Max Klau is a consultant, author, speaker, and Integral Master Coach based in Boston, Massachusetts.  He received his doctorate from the Harvard Graduate School of Education in 2005 with a focus on civic leadership development.  He served as the Chief Program Officer at the New Politics Leadership Academy (NPLA) from 2016-2024.  NPLA is focused on bringing more servant leaders into politics, and Max designed leadership programs that have graduated more than 2,500 servant leaders to date.   Previously, he was the Vice President of Leadership Development at City Year, the education-focused AmeriCorps program.  He is the founder of the Center for Courageous Wholeness and his second book, Developing Servant Leaders at Scale, will be published in August 2025. He lives outside of Boston with his wife and two children. A Few Quotes From This Episode “One of the reasons our world is so divided is because we’re divided from ourselves.” “We’ve hit the limits of how much change we can make without getting serious about owning our shadow.” “If we don’t confront the shadow, it controls us from beyond our awareness and shows up in the systems we lead.” “Service turns pain into power when we use the gifts of our struggle to serve others.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode  Book: Developing Servant Leaders at Scale by Max Klau  Book: Servant Leadership: A Journey into the Nature of Legitimate Power and Greatness by Greenleaf Book: Abundance by Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson Book: The Hero with a Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell Organization: Inner Development Goals  Podcast: Living Myth with Michael Meade About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Cynthia Pong, JD, is an award-winning executive coach and speaker who empowers women of color leaders to advance their careers into positions of power. A Forbes Contributor and LinkedIn Top Voice for Job Search and Career, she has been featured in HBR, The Atlantic, and on NBC, CBS, NPR, and more.  As Founder and CEO of Embrace Change, Cynthia leads an elite, all-BIPOC team who provide specialized coaching and training programs for high-performing women of color up to the C-suite. Equipped with Cynthia’s strategic guidance, her clients break down barriers, lead with authenticity, and have collectively negotiated over $750K in salary increases. Her Anthem Award-winning Leadership Accelerator program has propelled women of color to prestigious fellowships, promotions, and top graduate program admissions.  Cynthia’s book, Don’t Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Color , has cemented her as a foremost voice on career advancement, negotiation, and thought leadership. A Few Quotes From This Episode “I’ve coached over 350 women of color—those numbers taught me it’s never a skills gap but often a confidence gap.” “It’s not about a deficit in ability; it’s about being so hard on ourselves we won’t experiment or make a mistake.” “One-on-one tailored strategic support from an executive coach is the single best investment of your scarce resource: time.” “We have to change from doing to leading—mastering tasks won’t teach you how to inspire others.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode  Book: Don’t Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Color  Cynthia's Forbes Contributor Page Cynthia's Assessment: Cynthia's Leadership Skills Quiz Book: Never Split the Difference Website: Anton Gunn’s Leadership Works About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Jenn Zella is the Co-Founding Principal and Chief Visionary Officer of CID Design Group, an intentional design firm that creates authentic interiors and inspired brands that engage, elevate, and endure. With a deep-rooted passion for collaboration, the creative process, and what she terms Conscious Design, Jenn believes in the power of design to make the world a happier, healthier, and more beautiful place. With over 25 years of experience and stemming from a long family legacy of design, architecture, development, and construction, Jenn has been a catalyst for CID’s growth and evolution, earning recognition as one of the Top 100 design firms by Interior Design Magazine for eight consecutive years.  As a thought leader and creative visionary, Jenn frequently speaks nationally, sharing insights on future-forward and human-centric design, leading with heart and purpose, building a culture of trust, and coaching creativity. She has championed the intersection of design and well-being, creating spaces that support individuals in becoming their best selves. She also embodies this philosophy by integrating well-being into CID’s Blue Zone Certified workplace, including a dedicated Wellness Studio that prioritizes holistic health, mindful movement, and self-care. With a team based in 11 states and 30 cities, CID has taken a bold approach in the design industry, embracing a predominantly virtual creative workplace, redefining how we design, collaborate, and fuel culture leveraging deep tech and high trust. Jenn believes in leading and creating with love, with an open mind, and in collaboration with others. None of us are as smart as all of us. A Few Quotes From This Episode “Having fun is elemental to being our best and to enjoying the journey together.” “Engage, elevate, endure—that’s our mantra for everything we create.” “Physical presence in a seat at a desk does not equate to accountability.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode  Book: The Creative Act by Rick Rubin  About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Richard Barrett is an internationally recognised authority on organisational leadership, and personal, organisational, and societal transformation. He is the President of the Barrett Academy for the Advancement of Human Values®, and the Founder of the Barrett Values Centre®. His lifetime quest for understanding the deeper motivations of human consciousness led him to study organisational culture, psychology, spirituality and the evolution of societal worldviews. This interdisciplinary approach culminated in developing the Seven Levels of Consciousness Model, known internationally as the Barrett Model. Barrett is an accomplished author, having written 14 books, the most influential of which are “The Values-Driven Organization,” “Evolutionary Coaching,” “The New Leadership Paradigm,” and “A New Psychology of Human Well-Being.”  A Few Quotes From This Episode “Knowing your values means you know what’s in your heart at the deepest level.” “You can’t lead other people if you can’t lead yourself.” “The purpose for the soul is simply self-expression.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode  Book: Rebalancing Society by Mintzberg Book: What My Soul Told Me by Richard Barrett Book: The Nordic Secret by Andersen &  Björkman  Humanity Awareness Initiative  Barrett Values Centre  Richard Barrett’s art site About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Dr. Rita A. Gardiner is an Associate Professor, Critical Policy, Equity, and Leadership Studies, Faculty of Education, Western University, Canada. Her publications include articles in Gender, Work and Organization, Business Ethics Quarterly, and Organization Studies. She has published extensively on the topic of authentic leadership including a monograph entitled Gender, Authenticity, and Leadership: Thinking with Arendt. As well, Rita is the lead editor of a new international collection exploring the concept of genderwashing in leadership and diverse organizations.  Dr. Hayley Baker is an Assistant Professor, School of Kinesiology, Faculty of Health Sciences, Western University, Canada. Her scholarly interests include leadership, gender, and sport. Her research has focused on addressing the underrepresentation of women coaches at Canadian universities by exploring normalized institutional practices and processes. Additionally, she has examined the implementation of gender-based violence policies in universities and Canadian sport organizations.  A Couple Quotes From This Episode “I think, put simply, genderwashing is really a myth… a myth of gender equality in organizations. “It’s about organizational rhetoric versus lived experience, and we’re looking at the tensions between them.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode  Book: Genderwashing in Leadership: Power, Policies and Politics Book: Leadership Ethics: An Introduction Television Show: The Traitors (UK) About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some i ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.

Send us a text Harold (Trey) Carlson has served as chief of staff for NASA’s John F. Kennedy Space Center in Florida since August 2022. In this role, Carlson is responsible for day-to-day operations at Kennedy, helping shape the center's strategic direction while overseeing various policies and initiatives. Before assuming his current role, Carlson served five years as the Kennedy Space Center legislative affairs manager. He directed KSC’s legislative agenda, interfacing with Congress and the State of Florida legislature and advocating for NASA’s exploration and science mission requirements and Kennedy’s multi-user spaceport needs. During his tenure as legislative affairs manager, Carlson served several months as NASA’s acting deputy associate administrator for the Office of Legislative and Intergovernmental Affairs (OLIA) and eight months as the acting director for Legislative Liaison Division within OLIA.  Previously, he led the development and execution of Kennedy’s master plan that transformed the center from a single-use, government-operated federal facility to a multi-user spaceport providing both government and commercial launch operations. Carlson is a former U.S. Navy submariner and holds a bachelor’s degree in urban studies and planning from the University of California at San Diego, and a Master of Science degree in public policy and management from the Heinz School at Carnegie Mellon University.  A Quote From This Episode "It’s the people element that is the most important—whether you’re making yeast rolls or launching rockets.” “I’ve never thought, ‘Why did I do this?’ after investing time in a relationship.” Resources Mentioned in This Episode  Podcast: Jordan Peterson Podcast: President’s Daily Brief  TED: Ian Bremmer’s 2025 outlook About The International Leadership Association (ILA) The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. Allen Website Weekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for Leaders Blog My Approach to Hosting The views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, research, and exploration of the topic. ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.