

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

Jun 12, 2024 • 52min
Nadia Taranczewski & Dr. Valerie Livesay - Conscious Tribes
Send us a textNadia Taranczewski holds a Master of Psychology, Master Certified Coach, executive coach, keynote speaker, and author of Conscious You: Become the Hero of Your Own Story. She has worked as a coach and organizational developer since 2001. Her company, ConsciousU, makes culture change scalable through its blended learning online-based coaching programs. By combining individual consciousness development and social learning in groups and teams, they support organizations in reinventing themselves as Conscious Tribe.She is a curious and voracious learner and has studied with some of the best coaches and experts worldwide. Nadja lives in Berlin, Germany, with her wife, loves to travel the world by home-exchanging, and is currently working on her forthcoming book, The Conscious Tribe Playbook. For more than a decade, Valerie Livesay, Ph.D. has been thinking about and inquiring into the phenomenon of fallback––when, despite our optimal developmental capacities, what we often refer to as our developmental center-of-gravity—we make meaning, feel, and act from a smaller, less complex, less capable form of mind. As Chief Illuminator at Ghost Light Leadership, Valerie accompanies individuals through their discovery of self, using the analogy of theater to set the stage for their historical and unfolding story. Through her writing, speaking, coaching, and workshop offerings, Valerie invites the many characters that comprise the full ensemble of one’s self to dance together to better meet their intentions. She is the author of Leaving the Ghost Light Burning: Illuminating Fallback in Embrace of the Fullness of You in which she reveals both the despair and ecstasy that accompany a knowing of the fullness of one’s allowing the reader to find the fullness of themselves in the journey of development and the experience of being human.A Quote From Nadia's Website"A Conscious Tribe is a thriving organization whose members engage in inner work, see the big picture, nurture deep relationships, and practice conscious rituals."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeBook: The New Comedy Bible by CarterBook: Venomous Lumpsucker by Beauman Podcast: The Rest is HistoryAbout The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Register for ILA's 26th Global Conference in Chicago, ♻️ 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.

Jun 5, 2024 • 38min
Dr. Barbara Kellerman - Leadership from Bad to Worse
Send us a textDr. Barbara Kellerman is a Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership. She was the Founding Executive Director of the Center, and a member of the Kennedy School faculty for over twenty years. Kellerman has held professorships at Fordham, Tufts, Fairleigh Dickinson, George Washington, Christopher Newport, and the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. She also served as Director of the Center for the Advanced Study of Leadership at the University of Maryland.Kellerman received her B.A. from Sarah Lawrence College, and her M.A. M.Phil., and Ph.D. (in Political Science) degrees from Yale University. She was awarded a Danforth Fellowship and three Fulbright fellowships. At Uppsala (1996-97), she held the Fulbright Chair in American Studies. Kellerman was cofounder of the International Leadership Association (ILA) and is author and editor of many books. Kellerman has also appeared on media outlets such as CBS, NBC, PBS, CNN, NPR, MSNBC, Reuters, and BBC, and has contributed articles and reviews to the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Boston Globe, the Los Angeles Times, and the Harvard Business Review.Barbara Kellerman has spoken to audiences all over the world including in Beijing, Toronto, Moscow, Melbourne, Buenos Aires, Munich, Seoul, Jerusalem, Mumbai, Berlin, Shanghai, Sao Paolo, Kyoto, and Sydney. She received the Wilbur M. McFeeley award from the National Management Association for her pioneering work on leadership and followership, as well as the Lifetime Achievement Award from the International Leadership Association. From 2015 to 2023, she was listed by Global Gurus as among the “World’s Top 30 Management Professionals.”A Quote From Kellerman"Bad leadership is a disease. It’s not a physical disease. It’s a social disease no less invasive or destructive than its physical counterpart. Unless and until we recognize the parallel, bad leadership will remain incurable, impossible to root out in the future any more than in the past. Sad. No, tragic."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeWebsite: Barbara KellermanBlog Post: Leadership Gender Gap: ReduxAbout The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Register for ILA's 26th Global Conference in Chicago, IL - November 7-10, 2024.About Scott J. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: The Leader's EdgeMy Approach to Hosting ♻️ 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.

May 29, 2024 • 1h 2min
Dr. Alis Anagnostakis & Dr. Valerie Livesay - Frontiers in Vertical Development
Dr. Alis Anagnostakis, a leader in adult development research, discusses embracing emotions for personal growth. Dr. Valerie Livesay explores fallbacks in development. They highlight the importance of vulnerability, deep conversations, and exploring power dynamics for leadership growth.

May 22, 2024 • 39min
Dr. Nadir Zafar & Dr. Michael Yap - Developing Leaders in Singapore
Send us a textDr. Nadir Zafar is a Singaporean national who holds several leadership roles.He is the Director of the Singapore Leaders Network (SGLN), where he leads a national movement to prepare Singaporeans for global leadership roles. SGLN is funded by the Singapore Economic Development Board (EDB) and managed by the Human Capital Leadership Institute (HCLI).At HCLI, Dr. Zafar is the Chief Experience Officer (CXO), responsible for leading the client engagement, strategic marketing, and alumni relations teams. HCLI is a Temasek owned leadership institute backed by the EDB and Ministry of Manpower. Dr. Zafar has a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation from the NYU Steinhardt School of Culture, Education, & Human Development, an MBA from global business school INSEAD, and a Bachelor of Business Management from the pioneer cohort at the Singapore Management University.Dr. Michael Yap is a dynamic and forward-thinking higher education leader known for his strategic prowess and ability to foster impactful collaborations. As the Regional Managing Director for Coventry University Singapore Hub, he assumes the esteemed role of the university's most senior representative within the Asian region.Michael's impact within Coventry University Singapore Hub is profound. He has orchestrated the development of numerous strategic partnerships with regional higher education institutions, cutting-edge research centres, and dynamic commercial entities. He elevated the university's brand recognition through strategic insight and fostered robust relationships with influential governmental stakeholders from the UK and local jurisdictions.With a deep-seated understanding of Asian and UK education landscapes, Michael is adept at navigating complexities and building bridges between cultures. His extensive travels across Asia have honed his cross-cultural competencies, enabling him to drive meaningful change through effective global engagement.A Quote From The Episode"In Singapore, we are blessed to have a mix of Western and Eastern influences in the workplace. While we carry the Eastern values, we also have the Western pragmatism when it comes to doing business, and that puts us at an advantage when it comes to the global stage."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeOrganization - Human Capital Leadership InstituteOrganization - Coventry University Singapore Video - Lee Kuan Yew in His Own WordsAbout The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested ♻️ 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.

7 snips
May 15, 2024 • 40min
Dr. Keith Grint - A Cartography of Resistance: Leadership, Management, and Command
Dr. Keith Grint, a renowned Professor Emeritus at Warwick University, discusses the importance of resistance in leadership, management, and command. He explores historical and current examples of resistance movements, followership, and the significance of aligning leadership strategies. The conversation highlights the nuances of resistance narratives and the blend of history with leadership studies.

May 8, 2024 • 41min
Dr. Angelica Larios - The Pygmalion Effect
Send us a textDr. Angelica Larios, PMP is a business and project manager with more than 20 years of experience in implementing software projects related to business intelligence, planning, and consolidation of financial solutions based in software applications to support the business decision process. She is the founder and CEO of ALACONTEC, an IT consulting company founded in Latin America. She has held several professional positions in private and public organizations, such as the Health Ministry in Mexico as IT director, and as a business manager for several firms in Mexico.She holds a master’s degree in business administration and a bachelor’s degree in computer science from National University of Mexico (UNAM) in addition to her studies in project management and her Project Management Professional (PMP)® certification, which have helped her to consolidate her career and have a better understanding on what businesses and projects need nowadays. She was the first female president of the PMI Mexico Chapter. She is a doctor in strategic leadership at Regent University, VA, and currently serves on the Ethics Member Advisory Group (EMAG) that supports the PMI global operations (2019–2021). She has held other global volunteer positions, such as BVAC (2016-2018) and CMAG (2013-2014).She is the author of several published articles related to leadership and project management published in Project Management, PM World Journal, and Grebennikno Russia. Angélica has been elected as a member of the board of directors (BOD) for ILA (International Leadership Association) (2021-2024).A Quote From This Episode"The highest mission I aspire to achieve is to inspire women."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeWebsite: Angelica's WebsiteBook: The Female Transformational Leadership A Pygmalion Effect: Believe In Yourself And Believe In Others by LariosPodcast: The Coming Wave by SuleymanAbout The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for ILA's 26th Global Conference in Chicago, IL - November 7-10, 2024. About Scott J. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: The Leader's EdgeMy 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 c ♻️ 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.

May 1, 2024 • 47min
Dr. Laura Empson - Leading Professional People
Dr. Laura Empson, expert in professional leadership, discusses power dynamics in service firms, qualities for influential leadership, and interviews on subtle power, emotional leadership, and espionage. She shares insights on transitioning from industry to academia and creating thought leadership through podcasting.

Apr 24, 2024 • 44min
Dr. Kathy Allen & Rian Satterwhite - Leadership for Regenerative Futures
Send us a textDr. Kathy Allen specializes in leadership coaching and organizational change in non-profit organizations, foundations, small to mid-sized businesses, community development, higher educational institutions, and collaborative networks.Dr. Allen has written and presented widely on topics of leadership, human development, and organizational development. She is a skilled facilitator of organizational change and organizational development. The earmarks of her work are the creation of shared ownership of the results of a change project, long-term sustainable change for the organization, and increased capacity for the staff members and leaders in those organizations.Kathy's most recent book is Leading from the Roots: Nature Inspired Leadership Lessons for Today’s World. This book firmly anchors leadership in the soil of nature. It’s a foundational leadership framework that challenges our 20th-century views that leadership concepts can be universally applied to all contexts.Rian Satterwhite serves as Director of the Office of Service Learning & Leadership at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and teaching faculty at Claremont Lincoln University. A long-time member of the ILA, he serves on the Steering Committee for the ILA Sustainability Leadership Member Community and the ILA Committee for the Advancement of Leadership Programs. He is an active member of The Research University Community Engagement Network (a part of Campus Compact), and serves as a recommended consultant for the Carnegie Elective Classification in Community Engagement and a reviewer for the Elective Classification in Leadership for Public Purpose. Most importantly, he is a father of two and enjoys hiking, travel, and photography.A Quote From This Episode"We gotta elder up here..."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeRyan's list of resources (See episode transcript)Website: Kathy AllenBook: Slow Productivity: The Lost Art of Accomplishment Without Burnout by NewportTelevision Show: ShogunOrganization: One Planet LeadershipAbout The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for ILA's 26th Global Conference in Chicago, IL - November 7-10, 2024. About The Boler College of Business at John Carroll UniversityBoler offers four MBA programs – 1 Year Flexible, Hybrid, Online, and Professional. Each ♻️ 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.

Apr 17, 2024 • 54min
Dr. Steve Kempster – Realising Good Growth: A Regenerative Approach
Send us a textDr. Steve Kempster is an Emeritus Professor of Leadership Learning and Development at Lancaster University Management School and is an Associate Partner of the Regenerative Alliance. He has published broadly on leadership learning, leadership of purpose, and responsible leadership with five books and many articles and chapters. Steve leads the Good Dividends project (www.gooddividends.com) – formed from an interdisciplinary group of academics drawn from 5 universities in Europe and Australasia – to enable business leaders to develop their business models towards becoming regenerative and realising good growth. His latest book is ‘Good Dividends: Responsible Leadership of Business Purpose’. Recently, Steve has been the director of the Lancaster University Made Smarter and Evolve Digital programmes, which link digitalisation with regenerative outcomes and are funded by the UK government. He is currently co-director of Lancaster University's ‘Good Growth’ Programme, which is focused on reframing growth towards regenerative outcomes and building towards a well-being economy. A Quote From This Episode"What we require is evidence...where is the evidence base? How is this all coming together? How can we see the difference from this leadership that's been pursued - regenerative leadership."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeOrganization - B for Good LeadersPodcast - The Rest is PoliticsPodcast - The Daily DougBook: Radical Hope by LearBook: How Democracies Die by Levitsky and Ziblatt Book: How Civil Wars Start by WalterAbout The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for ILA's 26th Global Conference in Chicago, IL - November 7-10, 2024. About The Boler College of Business at John Carroll UniversityBoler offers four MBA programs – 1 Year Flexible, Hybrid, Online, and Professional. Each track offers flexible timelines and various class structure options (online, in-person, hybrid, asynchronous). Boler’s tech core and international study tour opportunities set these MBA programs apart. Rankings highlighted in the intro are taken from CEO Magazine.About Scott ♻️ 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.

Apr 10, 2024 • 42min
Dr. Les Sylven - Meditation, Mindfulness, & Leadership
Send us a textDr. Les Sylven has been a police officer in Canada for over 30 years, serving with three different police organizations in a wide variety of roles, from a Royal Canadian Mounted Police officer in a rural community to a municipal Police Chief. During his policing career, he was actively involved in numerous public safety initiatives for which he was recognized by the Governor General of Canada, receiving the Order of Merit of the Police Forces in 2020. He is a life member of the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police and an active member of the International Leadership Association. A Quote From This Episode"For me, your breath is with you all the time."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeDissertation: Mindful of Authority: Exploring the Practice of Meditation, Mindfulness, and Leadership with Commissioned Canadian Police OfficersOrganization: Cascade Institute Book: Strength in Stillness by Bob RothAbout The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for ILA's 26th Global Conference in Chicago, IL - November 7-10, 2024. About The Boler College of Business at John Carroll UniversityBoler offers four MBA programs – 1 Year Flexible, Hybrid, Online, and Professional. Each track offers flexible timelines and various class structure options (online, in-person, hybrid, asynchronous). Boler’s tech core and international study tour opportunities set these MBA programs apart. Rankings highlighted in the intro are taken from CEO Magazine.About Scott J. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: The Leader's EdgeMy 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.


