

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

Mar 6, 2024 • 50min
Celina Caesar Chavannes - Finding My Voice in the Unlikeliest of Places
Send us a textCelina Caesar-Chavannes is a business consultant, coach and international speaker, who currently serves part-time as the Sr. Advisor, EDI Initiatives and Adjunct Lecturer at Queen’s University. Her memoir, Can You Hear Me Now? was published in 2021. Her leadership development app, MaximizingU, is available on Google Play and the App Store. Celina was the former Member of Parliament for Whitby, Parliamentary Secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, and Parliamentary Secretary for International Development. During her term as a Member of Parliament, Celina was awarded several distinctions, including a feature in the April 2018 edition of O (Oprah Winfrey) Magazine entitled, “What would you stand up for?” She has a Bachelor of Science, an MBA in Healthcare Management, and an Executive MBA from the Rotman School of Management. She is currently enrolled in a neuroscience PhD program at Queen’s University, exploring the intersection of empathy, leadership, and equity. Celina is also a [Deepak] Chopra Certified Health and Meditation Instructor and bases much of her work on Ayurvedic principles, self-awareness, and development.Before politics, Celina founded Resolve Research Solutions, Inc. This research management consulting firm provides research, consulting, and education services to organizations seeking equity and advancing progress for those with multiple intersecting identities. A Quote From This Episode"This is the story of me falling in love with, at last with, who I am and finding my voice in the unlikeliest of places."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeBook: Can You Hear Me Now? by Celina Caesar-ChavannesBook: The Conversation by Robert LivingstonAuthor: Isabella WilkersonAuthor: Bell HooksAuthor: Michel FoucaultAbout 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 ♻️ 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.

Feb 28, 2024 • 44min
Roy Tuscany - Destroying Barriers
Send us a textRoy Tuscany is originally from Waterbury, VT, and after graduating from the University of Vermont with a Mechanical Engineering degree, he headed west to pursue the dream of being a professional free-skier. In 2006, Roy suffered a life-changing injury that left him paralyzed from the waist down and was the catalyst for the creation of High Fives. Roy turned the financial and community support of his recovery into a ‘pay-it-forward’ adventure with the creation of the High Fives Foundation. He was named the “Spirit Inspires” award from Disabled Sports USA in 2011 and once held the World Record for the most high fives in 24 hours. He lives in Reno, NV, with his partner Alana Nichols and son Gunnar. He enjoys finding fun in everything he does - biking, skiing, surfing, and everything outdoors.A Quote From This Episode"Post-traumatic growth is a rare phenomenon that individuals, after sustaining a life-changing injury, not only change to the way they physically move, but also their path of life."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeMovie: Full Circle Documentary on Netflix (It's Awesome)Video: Good by Jocko WillinkMany Lives, Many Masters by Brian Weiss The Myth of Normal by Gabor MateDiscipline is Destiny by Ryan HolidayGreen Lights by Matthew McCuahneMatthew McConaugheyMindset by Carol DweckSand Talk by Tyson YunkaportaAbout 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: ♻️ 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.

Feb 21, 2024 • 41min
George Papandreou, Dr. Ron Heifetz, & Dr. Cynthia Cherrey - A Wider Framework (Part 2)
Former Greek Prime Minister George Papandreou and leadership expert Dr. Ron Heifetz discuss democracy challenges, transparent algorithms, and effective leadership qualities. They explore collaboration in post-disaster recovery and the intersection of democracy and leadership, emphasizing adaptability and engagement with stakeholders.

Feb 14, 2024 • 53min
George Papandreou, Dr. Ron Heifetz, & Dr. Cynthia Cherrey - A Wider Framework (Part 1)
Former Greek Prime Minister, George Papandreou, discusses leadership challenges and structural reforms during the country's debt crisis. Dr. Ron Heifetz, a leader in public leadership, shares insights on navigating transparency, corruption, and crisis situations. The podcast delves into the complexities of Turkey's EU candidacy, peace efforts, and the importance of democratic values in conflict resolution.

Feb 7, 2024 • 33min
Dr. Barry Boyd & Dr. Jennnifer Strong - Ethical Leadership: Theory to Practice
Send us a textDr. Barry L. Boyd is an Associate Professor in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communications (ALEC) at Texas A&M University. He holds the Thaman Professorship in Undergraduate Teaching Excellence. Dr. Boyd earned his doctorate from Texas A&M in 1991 with an emphasis in leadership education and instructional. He teaches courses in personal and organizational leadership development, developing youth leadership organizations, and applied ethics in leadership. Dr. Boyd’s research includes teaching and assessing critical thinking and using critical thinking in ethical decision-making. His team developed the QUEEN Model of Critical Thinking as part of a NIFA Higher Education grant. Dr. Jennifer Strong is an Associate Professor of Leadership in the Department of Agricultural Leadership, Education, and Communications at Texas A&M University. She teaches undergraduate and graduate courses in leadership theory, ethics, organizational culture, team development, and leadership in popular culture. Her research includes the impact of innovative teaching methods on effective leader development and the intersectionality between critical thinking behavior (QUEEN Model), ethics, and followership. Dr. Strong received her bachelor's and master’s degrees in leadership from Texas A&M and her Ph.D. from Oklahoma State University. A Quote From This Episode"Our students need to be able to talk about following ethically...we know not all leaders are ethical, and we know that there are ways that we need to govern ourselves so that we can lead up."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeBook: Ethical Leadership: Theory to Practice by Boyd and StrongBook: The Dichotomy of Leadership by Willinck and RabinBook: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by CollinsBook: Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by ReidBook: Daisy Jones & The Six by ReidBook: The Three-Body Problem by Liu & LiuBook: Black Chalk by YatesAbout 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 optio ♻️ 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 31, 2024 • 44min
Dr. Dennis Tourish - Time to Use the F Word
Send us a textDr. Dennis Tourish is Professor of Leadership and Organisation Studies at the University of Sussex. He is the former editor of the journal Leadership, and the author of several books including The Dark Side of Transformational Leadership, published and Management Studies in Crisis: Fraud, Deception and Meaningless Research. He is a proponent of the Responsible Research of Business and Management Network an organization that envisions a world where business and management research is used in practice to improve the lives of people. Quote From This Episode"Populist leaders after the Second World War, at the very least, made at least some show of respecting democratic norms and tried to achieve power through winning elections rather than through military adventures or pushes. Fascist leaders are much more overtly concerned with mobilizing an angry mob and turning loose on the traditional institutions of the state or the opposition."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeArticle: It is Time to Use the F word About Trump: Fascism, Populism and the Rebirth of History by TourishBook: Rebalancing Society by Mintzberg (free PDF)Book: Principles For Dealing with the Changing World Order by DalioBook: How Civil Wars Start by WalterBook: The Cult of Trump by HassanBook: The Fourth Turning is Here by HoweBook: Liberal Solidarity by HodgsonAbout 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. Ranking ♻️ 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 24, 2024 • 39min
Dr. Barbara Kellerman - Leader (and Follower) of the Year 2023
Dr. Barbara Kellerman, Fellow at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Center for Public Leadership, discusses the scarcity of great leaders in today's liberal democracies, the importance of acknowledging the influence of followers in leadership, the activism of Pussy Riot, potential candidates for Follower of the Year, Putin's survival instincts, and the playbook of a dictator.

Jan 17, 2024 • 51min
Dr. Barbara Kellerman - Wandering (With Purpose)
Dr. Barbara Kellerman, a Harvard Kennedy School Fellow, discusses evolving leadership dynamics, updating age-old systems like the US Constitution, adapting to the climate crisis, impact of social media on leadership, and navigating global shifts for effective leadership with a focus on optimism, centrism, and collaboration.

Jan 10, 2024 • 32min
Dr. Susan Komives and Dr. Julie Owen - A Research Agenda for Leadership Learning and Development through Higher Education
Send us a textDr. Susan R. Komives is Professor Emerita in the Student Affairs Graduate Program at the U. Maryland where she taught until 2012. She is past president of CAS and ACPA and was Vice President of two institutions. She is the co-author or co-editor of 16 books, including Exploring Leadership, Leadership for A Better World, Handbook for Student Leadership Development, and How Academic Disciplines Approach Leadership. She and her research teams developed the Multi-institutional Study of Leadership and the Leadership Identity Development grounded theory. She is co-founder of the National Clearinghouse for Leadership Programs and the founding editor of the Wiley New Directions for Student Leadership series. Dr. Julie E. Owen (she/her) is an Associate Professor of Leadership Studies at the School of Integrative Studies, George Mason, where she coordinates the leadership studies major and minor and is affiliate faculty with Women and Gender Studies and the Higher Education Program. Her most recent book is We are the Leaders We've Been Waiting For: Women and Leadership Development in College (Stylus, 2020).. Owen identifies as a white, currently-able, middle-class, cisgender woman working in the academy. She is committed to using her voice to advocate for positive social change leading to more equitable leadership for all and to consider how identities and social power shape practice. She explores the intersections of leadership identity, women’s adult development, and the scholarship of liberatory leadership teaching and learning. About The Book"An essential resource for leadership educators and practitioners interested in advancing equity and social justice outcomes in their program delivery."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeBook: A Research Agenda for Leadership Learning and Development Through Higher EducationFilm: Little Richard: I Am EverythingBlog: Queerig LeadershipTV Show: YellowstoneAbout 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 ♻️ 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 3, 2024 • 35min
The Right Honourable Beverly McLachlin - Conscious Objectivity
Send us a textThe Right Honourable Beverley McLachlin, P.C., C.C., CStJ, served as Chief Justice of Canada from 2000 to mid-December 2017. In June 2018, she was made a Companion of the Order of Canada, the country’s highest accolade. She works in ADR as a bilingual arbitrator and mediator in Canada and internationally.During her 28 years on the Supreme Court of Canada, she helped decide a wide variety of common law and civil law disputes in both French and English. Her tenure as Chief Justice was the longest in Canadian history. The 2,094 Supreme Court of Canada judgments in which she participated—of which she wrote 442—and her legal writings and speaking include a wide range of subjects in corporate, construction, financial services, taxation, contract, tort, IT, patent, copyright, other areas of business law, as well as arbitration and mediation. She has received over 35 honorary degrees from universities in Canada and abroad, and numerous other honours and awards.Ms. McLachlin is also a Justice of Singapore’s International Commercial Court and the Hong Kong Final Court of Appeal.Quote From This Episode"I would actually, consciously, try to put myself into the shoes of each of the parties and imagine, through an exercise, conscious exercise, what it would be like to have suffered what they suffered or encountered what they encountered, and how I would feel if I had encountered or suffered that."Resources Mentioned in This EpisodeResource: Every Single Cognitive Bias in One InfographicBook: Principles for Dealing with the Changing World Order by DalioBook: Truth Be Told: My Journey Through Life and the Law by McLachlinArticle: Justice Beverley McLachlin: A Remarkable Journey to the ‘Centre Chair by ErbArticle: 'Conscious objectivity': That's how the chief justice defines the top court's role. Harper might beg to differ by BreanAbout 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 fr ♻️ 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.