

Practical Wisdom for Leaders with Scott J. Allen, Ph.D.
Scott J. Allen
Practical Wisdom for Leaders is your fast-paced, forward-thinking guide to leadership. Join host Scott J. Allen as he engages with remarkable guests—from former world leaders and nonprofit innovators to renowned professors, CEOs, and authors. Each episode offers timely insights and actionable tips designed to help you lead with impact, grow personally and professionally, and make a meaningful difference in your corner of the world.
Episodes
Mentioned books

Jan 29, 2025 • 36min
Jeffrey Beeson - Network Leadership: A New Paradigm
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.

Jan 22, 2025 • 43min
Ira Chaleff - The Power of Political Followers to Make Good Leaders and Brake Bad Ones
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.

Jan 15, 2025 • 41min
Zuzana Čmelíková - Leadership in Slovakia
Send us a textZuzana Čmelíková has been teaching and coaching for more than 20 years, especially in the diagnosis and creation of organizational culture, leadership development, self-management, resilience, stress management, time management, managerial training, soft-skills training. Zuzana has completed the 3rd degree of university studies in the field of human management at Matej Bel University. She successfully completed professional internships abroad in Belgium and in the USA. In 2019, she became an internationally certified persolog® coach for increasing personal performance, organizational performance and streamlining communication and teamwork. In 2020, she received certification at the University of Pennsylvania in the specialization Positive Psychology and Resilience, directly from the creators of this concept. In 2024 she won the category Lecturer of the Year in Learning & Development Awards.She is a Leadership & Resilience Professional in Slovakia.A Quote From This Episode"We need to be aware of who we are and what we stand for, and it will create a cultural identity. And I believe that we can base it on our history. We have amazing role models who fought for freedom in our country."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeBook: Ethics: The Heart of Leadership by Joanne B. Ciulla 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.

Jan 8, 2025 • 42min
Neal Foard - Shining a Light
Send us a textNeal Foard has spent 30 years in advertising and marketing, creating award-winning campaigns for global power brands like Budweiser, Sony and Lexus. For his work on Toyota, Neal ranked among the top ten most awarded creative directors in the world in 2002. As the author of an innovative talent development series, Neal was named Worldwide Director of Creative Learning for global ad agency Saatchi & Saatchi. He has consulted on creative messaging for Fortune 500 companies, governments and universities and been a featured speaker at TEDx conferences. Most recently, Neal has gained a following on social media for his inspirational videos about the kindnesses of everyday people.A Quote From This Episode"Curiosity and humility. Boy, those are going to go a long way as a leader."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeYoutube - Neal's YouTube ChannelWebsite - Neal's WebsiteTedTalk - Neal's TedTalkEmpathy Video - Cleveland ClinicBook - The Brothers Karamazov by DostoevskyPoet - Charles Bukowski 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.

Jan 2, 2025 • 42min
Josh Lindblom - Those Values Are Living and Breathing
Send us a textAfter a life of playing professional baseball, Josh Lindblom quickly realized he had nothing on his resume between "player here" and "player there." He felt a deep longing to discover who he had been created to be so that he could do what he had been designed to do. After being guided through retirement by a coach and having numerous discussions with friends and teammates, he realized that the longing he felt also resided deep and unsurfaced in the hearts of everyone he talked to. Congruency quickly changed from something he wanted to do to something he had to do.Josh is married to his high school sweetheart, Aurielle. They have four children. He enjoys getaway weekends with his wife, coaching his kids and their friends in any and every sport, and hosting friends for any and every reason—like a spontaneous Royal Rumble party. Josh has a Master’s in Biblical Studies (MABS), a personal and leadership development certification from Leader Breakthru, and an Associate Certified Coach certification (ACC) from the International Coaching Federation.Josh’s greatest passion is walking alongside others as they discover who they are and decide to make the courageous choice to align who they are with what they do each day of their lives.A Quote From Josh"We help you make your invisible life visible so you can break free from where you are and become who you were created to be."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeOrganization: CongruencyBook: Garden City by John Mark ComerBook: Strengthening the Soul of Your Leadership by Ruth Haley BartonBook: Life Without Lack by Dallas Willard 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 ♻️ 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.

Dec 26, 2024 • 37min
Carey Jaros - Providing Safe Sustainable Solutions
Send us a textCarey Jaros brings passion for our Purpose — Saving Lives and Making Life Better Through Well-Being Solutions — to her daily work at GOJO (the makers of Purell). Her focus is on continuously extending GOJO leadership as a market-making, growth-oriented Company that cares about the health and well-being of people worldwide and within its walls. Carey joined GOJO in 2014 as a board member, then held executive roles as Chief Strategy Officer – where she oversaw Marketing, Product Management, and Innovation – and as Chief Operating Officer before becoming President and CEO in January 2020.As an operator, investor, and board member, Carey has worked on and in more than 50 organizations— from established public and private companies, to startups and non-profits. Prior to GOJO, Carey was the President of Walnut Ridge Strategic Management Company, and was a Vice President at Dealer Tire, a large privately held tire distributor. She spent the first 12 years as a management consultant at Bain & Company.Carey is a Board Director of Grocery Outlet (NASDAQ: GO) and an Advisory Board Member of venture-backed menstrual products startup Aunt Flow. She also serves on the Boards of The Cleveland Foundation, University Hospitals, and Laurel School.Carey received her A.B. in Public Policy from Brown University and an MBA from Harvard Business School. She and her husband live in Northeast Ohio with their three children.A Quote "We have a whole-systems approach to social, environmental, and economic sustainability, including certification as a WBE, product certifications, and a vertically integrated supply chain. With our strong foundation in place, we're advancing our Sustainable Value strategy and action plan."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeBook - The Journey Home: Autobiography of an American SwamiWebsite - Frances Frei and Anne MorrissBook - Unleashed by Frances Frei and Anne MorrissTed Talk - How to Build (and Rebuild) Trust by Frances FreiPodcast - Fixable 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 App ♻️ 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.

Dec 18, 2024 • 39min
Dr. Ralph Gigliotti - Post-Crisis Leadership
Send us a textRalph A. Gigliotti, Ph.D., serves as Assistant Vice President for Organizational Leadership in University Academic Affairs at Rutgers University. In this role, he directs the Office of Organizational Leadership and provides executive leadership for a portfolio of signature leadership programs, consultation services, and research initiatives. Ralph regularly partners with campus leaders on projects of strategic importance, and he serves as an executive advisor for senior academic leaders across Rutgers in the areas of change leadership, crisis leadership, organizational strategy, and continuous improvement. He holds part-time faculty appointments in the Department of Communication (School of Communication and Information), Ph.D. Program in Higher Education (Graduate School of Education), Department of Family Medicine and Community Health (Robert Wood Johnson Medical School), and Rutgers Business School. He is author and editor of 10 books and nearly 50 journal articles and book chapters on topics related to organizational communication and leadership in higher education. Ralph is president of the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI) —an organization of nearly 100 colleges and universities from across North America who seek to advance sustainable excellence in higher education by promoting successful practices and approaches used to drive change, innovation, and continuous improvement across academic and administrative functions. We had two other guests toward the end of the episode who promoted some upcoming events with the Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI).Kim-Marie Jenkins, Senior Director for Organizational Change and Culture, University of Maine SystemRick Wernoski, Associate Vice Chancellor for Operational Excellence, University of North Carolina, Chapel HillA Quote From This Episode"We find ourselves at a moment in time where individuals, organizations, and communities are responding to the waves of change."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeBook: Post-Crisis Leadership: Resilience Renewal and Reinvention in the Aftermath of Disruption by GigliottiOrganization: Network for Change and Continuous Innovation (NCCI)Learning Opportunity: NCCI In-Person Institutes Book: Grant by Ron ChernowBook: Whatever It Is, I’m Against It: Resistance to Change in Higher Education by Rosenberg About The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, ♻️ 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.

Dec 11, 2024 • 36min
GC Myers - You've Got To Be a Full Person
Send us a textGC Myers is a contemporary painter from the Finger Lakes region of New York. He came to painting in mid-life and quite by accident, as a result of an accident that occurred while building his home in the early 1990s. Since that time, his recognizable landscapes, known for their strong colors and moods, are avidly collected here and abroad.Over the years, he has had over 60 one-man exhibitions at galleries across the country which represent his work. These solo exhibits have taken place at galleries in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, North Carolina, and California.In 2012, Myers' work was featured in an exhibition, "Internal Landscapes: The Paintings of GC Myers," at the Fenimore Art Museum in Cooperstown, NY.A Quote From This Episode"Art is about connection; you've got to be a full person. You've got to be a well-rounded person. Eventually, it shows if you're not."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeWebsite - GC Myers Blog - RedTree TimesBook - In Quiet Places by GC MyersDocumentary - GC Myers: Finding HomePaintings - Archeology Series by GC MyersMusician - Bill Mize Musician/Composer - Moondog"I do not strive to be different for the sake of being different, but do not mind being different if my difference is a result of my being myself" - MoondogBook: Demian by Hermann Hesse“The bird fights its way out of the egg. The egg is the world. Who would be born must first destroy a world. The bird flies to God. That God's name is Abraxas.” - Hermann Hesse, DemianAbout 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.

Dec 4, 2024 • 43min
Marianne Crosley - Transforming Communities
Send us a textMarianne Crosley retired as President and Chief Executive Officer of the Cleveland Leadership Center after leading the civic education leadership development and civic engagement organization for 14 years. Under her leadership programs to build civic leadership in Greater Cleveland grew significantly to reach 600 individuals across generations annually. In addition, she launched SPARK, an annual leadership conference, and Accelerate, an annual civic pitch competition. Prior to assuming the helm at the Leadership Center she served as the founding Executive Director of Summer on the Cuyahoga. This economic development initiative attracts young talent to Northeast Ohio. She has received numerous awards, including Crain's Cleveland Business Woman of Note, Smart Business Progressive Woman, Non-Profit Executive Director of the Year, and the Lifetime Legacy Award from the Association of Leadership Programs. She is passionate about creating positive community change and has leadership roles on several non-profit boards.A Quote From This Episode"We make sure that each program is structured differently so you can begin with your high school program and move on to our collegiate, young professional, mid-career, and senior levels. And it's all a journey - you're not repeating anything that you're learning. You're being exposed to new concepts and new people every step of the way."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeAssociation of Leadership ProgramsCleveland Leadership CenterLovely One by Ketanji Brown JacksonAbout 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.

18 snips
Nov 27, 2024 • 44min
Dr. David Day - Developing Leaders and Leadership
Dr. David Day, a Professor at Claremont McKenna College and an expert in leadership development, dives into the intricacies of fostering effective leaders. He critiques traditional short-term training programs, advocating for a long-term, systematic approach that emphasizes intrinsic motivation. The conversation highlights the importance of developing leadership skills through everyday experiences and personalized learning opportunities. Day shares insights on the role of feedback and reflection, challenging listeners to commit to continuous growth in their leadership journeys.


