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

Cecily Sommers, named one of the world’s “50 Leading Female Futurists” by Forbes, inspires leaders to embrace transformational change. She explains how foresight plays a crucial role in leadership, helping organizations identify advantageous opportunities. Cecily delves into essential themes like co-creation and ethical decision-making, emphasizing the need for adaptability in evolving environments. Listeners will discover the significance of creating reflective space for leaders and how engaging with innovative thinkers can fuel personal growth.

Send us a textOn his journey from a Parking Lot Attendant to CEO, Brian Cunningham has studied the leadership/followership dynamic at every level within a complex organization. As a life-long student of leadership and an explorer of numerous paths of expanded awareness, Brian has sought to uncover the larger possibilities of our service as a leader. Most importantly, we need to integrate these discoveries into the day-to-day practice of leading in our increasing complexity.As a reflection of these many years of ongoing study, research, and real-life application, Brian has written three groundbreaking books that illuminate the keys to our developmental progression into the highest levels of leadership service. His most recent book, Leadership: The Universal Principles, details the two universal principles that are foundational to our growth in leadership and in life. This book provides a practical framework that can be used to create your unique path of leadership mastery.A Few (Awesome) Quotes From This Episode“Leaders and followers are just two sides of the same coin, and we cannot move through significant complexity without each other."“Whatever I think or read pales in comparison to what reality teaches you.”Resources Mentioned in This Episode Book: Leadership: The Universal PrinciplesBook: Mastering Leadership by Bob Anderson and Bill AdamsBook: Scaling Leadership by Bob Anderson and Bill AdamsBook: The Cosmic Hologram by Dr. Jude CurrivanAbout 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. Joanne Murphy, Chair of Inclusive Leadership at Birmingham Business School, shares her insights on navigating conflict in politically volatile environments. Growing up during the Troubles in Northern Ireland shaped her understanding of leadership amid strife. She discusses the legacy of John Hume and his commitment to nonviolence. Highlighting the dynamics between Catholic and Protestant communities, Joanne emphasizes the importance of relationship-building and dialogue as tools for peace and conflict resolution, urging leaders to respect diversity in their approaches.

Send us a textBob Kulhan is a professor at the Duke University Fuqua School of Business and an elite improv and sketch comedian. Bob is the Founder & CEO of Business Improv® – a 25-yr-old consultancy linking improvisation to business through behavioral sciences. His focus: People Skills. Human Connection.His clients include a who’s who of businesses (from pharma to manufacturing to aerospace), universities, organizations, and government institutions. He has also worked extensively with entrepreneurs and solopreneurs, as well as small and medium size businesses.He is the best-selling author of Getting to Yes And: The Art of Business Improv (Stanford University Press). Kulhan also created the dynamic online (asynchronous) program, Improvisational Communication in 2019, for those who want to study Business Improv in the comfort of their own homes, at their own pace.A Few (AWESOME) Quotes From This Episode‘Yes, And’ does not mean I agree with you—it means I’m here, I’m listening, and I’m building thoughtfully on what you’ve said.”“Follow the follower: Great leaders pay close attention to those they lead, because those people are actively teaching you how to lead them.”“As a leader, my job isn’t to have the right answer; it’s to find the right answer by fostering real collaboration.”Resources Mentioned in This Episode Improvised Dialogues: Emergence and Creativity in Conversation by R. Keith SawyerThe Wisdom of Crowds by James SurowieckiAbout 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 textAnthony Amunategui is the founder of CDO Group, a national commercial construction firm he started almost 25 years ago with a small group in his basement. Today CDO Group has worked with some of the world’s largest brands to build an estimated one million square feet of retail space per year. Anthony has a true passion for discovering what makes people successful in business and in life. He loves having conversations about what the future holds for us personally and professionally and the adventures that shape that journey.A Quote From This Episode"The entrepreneur of the future will be tasked with finding those still spaces to do the mental exercises - to find that mental fitness that's going to drive their success."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeAnthony's Podcast - Future FactoryBook - AA Big Book 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.

Todd Bertsch, an inspiring entrepreneur and life-optimization coach, shares his journey from early life challenges to transformative leadership. He discusses the power of embracing a growth mindset, highlighting how it fosters empathy and self-awareness. Todd underscores the importance of personal growth as a foundation for effective leadership, explaining how supportive relationships play a crucial role. He emphasizes the value of reflection and vulnerability in guiding others, making a compelling case for leaders to prioritize their own well-being.

Send us a textDr. Flo Falayi, a Senior Client Partner at Korn Ferry, leads leadership and executive development within the Advisory practice, CEO/C-Suite Accelerator, and Succession team. He focuses on executive development, coaching, team effectiveness, and inclusive leadership programs to align with strategic priorities and enhance satisfaction, motivation, and retention.With 28 years of experience, Dr. Flo helps organizations execute strategy through effective leadership development and coaching. He has held P&L responsibilities across HR, Business Technology, L&D, and Training in global organizations.Dr. Flo Falayi brings a global perspective from working across North America, Europe, and West Africa. He applies psychological principles to solve leadership challenges and partners with senior leaders on assessments, 360 evaluations, and succession planning.Before Korn Ferry, he co-founded a boutique firm and was a principal at a global consultancy. A recognized thought leader, his insights appear in various publications, and he speaks frequently on inclusive leadership, hybrid leadership, and coaching strategies.Flo is married to his college sweetheart, Lande and they have three young men, two in college and a high school junior.Flo is a YALE scholar, holds a PhD in Organizational Leadership and an Executive MBA candidate at the University of Georgia, Terry College of Business. He holds a Master's degree and a Bachelor's degree in Computer Information Systems, and a Bachelor's degree in Architecture. Dr. Flo is an accredited coach (ACC) certified by the International Coach Federation (ICF) and a member of the American Psychological Association (APA), Change Management Professionals (ACMP), Project Management Institute (PMI), and the Forbes Coaches Council.A Quote From This Episode"Enterprise leaders have to be able to perform and transform the business at the same time."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeArticle: Top 5 Leadership Trends That Will Shape 2025 (Korn Ferry)Book: Calling Bullshit byCalling Bullshit: The Art of Skepticism in a Data-Driven World by Carl T. Bergstrom & Jevin D. WestBook: The Trusted Advisor byThe Trusted Advisor by David H. Maister, Robert Galford, and Charles Green Book: Leadership on the Line: Staying Alive through the Dangers of Leading by Ronald A. Heifetz  & Martin Linsky 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: Pra ♻️ 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 textCorey Crossan is a research and teaching fellow at The Oxford Character Project where she develops and facilitates character development programs for students and industry. She is also the co-founder of Virtuosity Character, a mobile software application created to support the daily, deliberate practice of character-based leadership development.Dr. Mary Crossan is a Distinguished University Professor and Professor of Strategic Leadership at the Ivey Business School at Western University, Ontario. She is also a co-founder of Virtuosity Character and co-host of the “Question of Character” podcast.A Quote From This Episode"We discovered that it wasn’t a failure of competence, but largely this failure of character.”Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeApp: Virtuosity CharacterMary Crossan on Google ScholarMovie: Freud's Last LessonsBook: The Science of Motivating Young People by Yeager 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 textJeffrey Beeson has a dual MBA in finance from the Wharton School of Business and an MA in international business from the Lauder Institute. They set the foundation for Jeffrey's interest in business strategy, culture, and leadership.During his work in the European offices of Bain and McKinsey, he led projects in a broad spectrum of industries on a pan-European and worldwide basis. During his collaboration with clients, Jeffrey experienced firsthand that culture eats strategy for breakfast. Jeffrey expanded his expertise in culture transformation by joining Senn Delaney, the first firm to foster thriving organizational cultures worldwide. At Senn Delaney, he headed culture rollout initiatives for multinational corporations throughout Europe. Jeffrey continued his personal learning journey at the European Office ofthe Center for Creative Leadership (CCL), a prestigious worldwide leadershipdevelopment practice. During his tenure at CCL he touched the lives ofthousands of leaders throughout Europe, Middle East, and Africa (EMEA) region and worldwide.From 2003 to 2011, Jeffrey served on the board of the International Leadership Association, the largest member-based organization dedicated to advancing leadership worldwide. A Quote From Beeson"The newly emerging science of networks opens an entirely new horizon on how to lead people, design organizations, and make sense of complex social environments."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeNetwork Leadership: Promoting a Healthier World through the Power of Networks by Jeffrey Beeson Jeffrey's BlogJeffrey's NewsletterBook: No Fit - My 1,700-Mile Walk from Apartheid by Nico de Klerk 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.

Ira Chaleff, an esteemed author and executive coach, dives into the dynamics of political followership and leadership. He discusses how followers can influence leaders' effectiveness and the importance of courageous followership. Chaleff examines motivations behind support for destructive leaders, drawing insights from historical events like the Holocaust. He also critiques political polarization and emphasizes the need for diverse viewpoints in enacting change. The conversation highlights the crucial role followers play in promoting ethical accountability and curbing tyranny.