Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.

Send us a textNicole 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 EpisodeArticle: Men’s Leadership Development: A Framework for Advancing Gender Equity in Leadership DevelopmentTelevision: AdolescenceTelevision: MenFilm: Coherence Television: The BearAbout 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. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for LeadersBlogMy Approach to HostingThe 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 textScott 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 EpisodeBook: The Founder’s Evolution by RitzheimerFramework: 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. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for LeadersBlogMy Approach to HostingThe 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 textDr. 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 EpisodeBook: Measuring the Man: The Writings of Frederick Douglass on Abraham LincolnArticle: Flag burning has a long history in the U.S. — and legal protections from the Supreme CourtAbout 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. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for LeadersBlogMy Approach to HostingThe 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.

Dr. Wayne Mayer, CEO of When Everything Matters, shares his expertise on integrating sustainability into business practices. He discusses the importance of systems thinking in corporate governance and social responsibility. Mayer highlights the AIC framework for engaging stakeholders, citing a mining case in Peru. He also emphasizes the need for sustainability leadership, using the Yellowstone wolf reintroduction as a powerful metaphor for change. Tune in for insights on corporate responsibility and continuous learning for effective leadership.

Dr. Barrett Keene, Senior Director of Talent Development at Stanford Health Care, shares his journey from academia to leadership consulting, highlighting his experience with Fortune 500 companies. He emphasizes the importance of foundational leadership skills like goal setting and active listening, while addressing the impact of generative AI on effective leadership. Barrett discusses bridging the gap between leadership theory and practice, advocating for a customer-centric approach to leadership development that aligns organizational goals with individual identities.

Jennifer Garvey Berger, co-founder and CEO of Cultivating Leadership, dives into transformative leadership strategies. She discusses the concept of 'complexity fitness' and how it shapes organizational effectiveness. The dialogue also touches on the intricacies of personal development, balancing inherited values with self-awareness. Jennifer emphasizes the importance of tailored leadership programs that support diverse learning styles. Additionally, they explore the enriching role of fiction in understanding leadership and personal growth.

Cathy Carroll, Founder and President of Legacy Onward, Inc., shares her insights on family business leadership after transitioning from a corporate career. She highlights the essential balance between strategic vision and execution, emphasizing that leadership is about managing polarities rather than resolving them. Cathy discusses the tension between agreeableness and decisiveness, advocating for a collaborative approach to problem-solving. She also draws inspiration from nature, stressing the importance of resilience and humility in effective leadership.

Dr. Amal Ahmadi, an expert in leadership development at the American University of Bahrain, and Dr. Bernd Vogel, a strategic leadership professor from Henley Business School, share enlightening insights on the 'knowing-doing gap.' They discuss the challenges of translating theoretical knowledge into practical leadership skills. The conversation highlights the need for structured reflection, effective filtering of information, and a supportive environment to enhance leadership capabilities. They also emphasize learning from failures as a vital pathway for growth.

Dr. Max Klau is a Boston-based consultant and author, with a mission to cultivate servant leaders in politics. He discusses the vital link between personal inner transformation and effective leadership, emphasizing that self-reflection is key to serving others. Klau highlights societal shifts away from community engagement and the need for compassionate dialogue. He also advocates for embracing inner development goals to tackle societal challenges, encouraging leaders to turn their struggles into strengths for the greater good.

Send us a textCynthia 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 scarcest 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 PageCynthia's Assessment: Cynthia's Leadership Skills Quiz Book: Never Split the Difference Website: Anton Gunn’s Leadership WorksAbout 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. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for LeadersBlogMy Approach to HostingThe 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 t ♻️ 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.