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

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.

Send us a textJenn 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. 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 ♻️ 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. Barbara Kellerman, a Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Center for Public Leadership and renowned leadership author, shares her insights on evolving leadership development. She critiques the quick-fix mentality prevalent in the leadership industry, emphasizing the need for lifelong learning and a more holistic approach. Kellerman discusses the decline of public trust in leaders and advocates for integrating follower dynamics into leadership education. The conversation also touches on the intersection of creativity and leadership, enriching the discourse with cinematic references.

Richard Barrett, President of the Barrett Academy, brings a wealth of knowledge in leadership and transformation. He dives deep into self-leadership, emphasizing the importance of understanding one’s values for guiding others. Listeners explore the evolution of consciousness and worldview clashes, calling for humanity awareness in education. Barrett highlights the impact of nurturing personal growth through supportive education systems, illustrating how intentional development can enhance societal well-being. The power of self-expression and meaningful connections also take center stage, urging listeners on their journey of self-discovery.

In a captivating discussion, Richard Bolden, a Professor of Leadership and Management, dives into the transformative world of collective leadership. He prompts a shift from traditional hierarchies to collaboration, emphasizing inclusivity and diverse perspectives. Richard unpacks the hidden dynamics of workplace interactions, discussing how casual connections enhance team efficiency. The conversation also explores community leadership, advocating for alignment among organizations to increase collective impact, and reflects on impactful learning resources that shape the future of leadership.

Send us a textDr. 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 PoliticsBook: Leadership Ethics: An IntroductionTelevision 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. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for LeadersBlogMy Approach to HostingThe views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal v ♻️ 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.

Trey Carlson, Chief of Staff for NASA’s Kennedy Space Center and former U.S. Navy submariner, shares his journey from military operations to space leadership. He discusses the critical importance of relationships and communication in high-stakes environments. Carlson reveals how his early culinary experiences on submarines shaped his leadership style. The conversation delves into the challenges of navigating leadership transitions and emphasizes open dialogue in diverse teams, showcasing how investing in relationships can elevate organizational morale and foster collaboration.

Send us a textDr. Doug MacKie has over 30 years of experience as an organisational and business psychologist and executive coach working in the UK, Europe, and Australasia. He specialises in sustainability leadership, high-performance teams, and developing leadership within purposeful organisations. Through his consulting work, he has helped identify and accelerate the development of ethical leadership and team capability in CEO’s, C-Suite executives, and MDs within many of the top 100 companies in the UK and Australia. He is the author of the definitive guide to Strength-Based Leadership Coaching in Organisations (2016) and is a co-editor of The Practitioners Handbook of Team Coaching (2019). He has recently established the Centre for Climate Change Leadership in Organisations and is the editor of the Handbook on this topic, published in 2023.A Few Quotes From This Episode“There is a significant gap between the scale and impact of anthropogenic climate change and the capacity of contemporary leadership to address those issues.”“We need to decouple economic growth from environmental degradation.”“We’re not good at long-term thinking as a species.”Resources Mentioned in This Episode Book: Handbook of Climate Change Leadership in Organisations by MacKie (25AFLY2 will get listeners 20% off the handbook)Book: Lead for the Planet by AndreBook:  Earth for All by Dixon-Decleve et al Book: Climate Change by Hulme Book: Ethical Leadership: A Primer by McManus,R.M. et alBook: The Sustainability Mindset Principles by RimanoczyAbout 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 LeadersMy 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. Juandré Peacock is an accomplished organizational psychologist and speaker. He holds Master's and Doctorate degrees in Industrial-Organizational Psychology, credentials that have underpinned a distinguished career working with some of the most complex organizations in the world.As a practitioner psychologist, Dr. Peacock applies research-based insights and strategies to every solution to ensure maximum impact. His work spans industries and continents, helping organizations foster connection and engagement, reduce attrition, and create cultures of growth and stability.An advocate for lifelong learning and innovation, Dr. Peacock has developed proprietary frameworks like RocketStart™, Cornerstone Skills for Managers™, and SynergisticChange™— tools designed to revolutionize how organizations approach talent development and change.Known for his engaging delivery, Dr.  Peacock crafts experiences integrating scientific research with inspirational narratives into actionable insights for all organizations. When not consulting or speaking, Dr. Peacock spends time with his wife, two children, and two dogs. Most weekends are spent in youth sports or arts, with the occasional fishing trip when time allows.A Quote From This Episode"I think there's a little bit of a disconnect between what you learn in the books and what you get to apply in the job space...when you learn about these things, what you don't learn are the real world constraints that organizations have to deal with...it's all well and good to try to do a job analysis by the book, it's extremely difficult to do it in practice."Resources Mentioned in This Episode Book: The Reacher Series by Lee Child 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. Toby Newstead is a respected leadership scholar and practitioner at the University of Tasmania, located in lutruwita on the lands of the palawa and pakana people. With a background in corporate change, leadership development, and professional communications, she brings practical expertise to her academic, coaching, and consulting work.An internationally recognized researcher, Dr. Newstead specializes in virtues-based leadership development, leadership ethics, and leadership in the volunteer sector. Her research appears in top journals. In 2023, she published a book titled Leadership and Virtues: Understanding and Practicing Good Leadership.Dr. Newstead is an established executive leadership coach and deeply engaged with industry and community. She regularly delivers impactful workshops, keynotes, and facilitation sessions. Dr Newstead’s research, teaching, coaching and facilitation has local and international impact, shaping the leaders of today and tomorrow.A Quote From This Episode“If we can insert virtues between stimulus and response, we can be more intentional about who we are and how we show up as leaders.”Resources Mentioned in This Episode Book: Lessons in ChemistryBook: The Dreaming PathAbout 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.