[Archive Interview from Jan 28, 2021]

“There's no one right way to lead,” says retired General Janet Wolfenbarger, a trailblazing leader in the U.S. military.  In 1980, she graduated from the Air Force Academy in the first class of women and went on to become the first woman in the Air Force to receive four stars.  Janet says although there are many paths to moral leadership, watching and listening to others guided her, “The biggest teacher for me of a good leader came from observing people in leadership roles. Understanding what approaches, character traits, and values were articulated, how they worked and, in some cases, didn't work.” 

Janet spoke to HOW Institute Fellow, Dana Born, in this latest episode of HOW Conversations where the two also discussed the advantages of being a "quiet leader", transitioning skills from the military to the corporate world and how anyone can be a moral leader.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority.  We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions.  We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.  

Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/   

[Archive Interview Jan 14, 2021]

“One of the things that I think is important to any moral leader is the ability to do self-reflection and be honest with yourself,” says retired Chief Master Sergeant Kaleth O. Wright.  Kaleth was the highest-ranking enlisted man in the Air Force when he retired last year and is now the CEO of the Air Force Aid Society.  

He spoke with Dana Born, HOW Institute Fellow, about how his moral leadership journey led him to post a heart-felt essay on Twitter after the death of George Floyd.  In the post Kaleth called upon himself to, “do better in ensuring every Airman in our ranks has a fair chance at becoming the best version of themselves,” and took responsibility for not doing more.  Kaleth also discussed finding courage as a leader, how being in charge means making impossible decisions, and the benefits of having tough conversations with those in your community. 

Watch the full episode to learn why Kaleth wrote the essay and why he believes moral leaders need to be both courageous and vulnerable.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority.  We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions.  We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.  

Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/   

[Archive Interview from Dec 17, 2020]

Moral leaders must have a strong sense of purpose and must be willing to put personal desires aside to achieve shared goals, says retired General Stanley McChrystal. “Things only matter if they link to a purpose that we've all looked at and we've all accepted, and we are committed to.  As a leader I have to keep pointing where we want to be going,” Stan told Dana H. Born, HOW Institute Fellow on this episode of HOW Conversations. 

The two also discussed transparent leadership, being intentional within leadership and moral decision making. Gen. McChrystal spoke about leadership built on values and the importance of active citizenship.  Stan is the CEO and founder of the McChrystal Group in Alexandria, VA.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority.  We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions.  We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.  Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/  

[Archive Interview from Dec 3, 2020]

"We’re never going back to life as it was in January 2020," says Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation. Darren spoke with Dov Seidman, the Founder and Chairman of the HOW Institute for Society on this episode of HOW Conversations. In a post-COVID world, “moral leaders see themselves as part of something bigger than themselves,” says Darren. And to meet the challenges of the post-COVID world moral leaders will need a new set of skills including, “empathy, compassion, humility, curiosity and grace.”

Darren and Dov discussed finding shared truths and building trust, the characteristics of a moral leader and leading through nuance. Darren explains the imperative for finding hope during times of crisis and the importance of empathy in society. 

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority.  We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions.  We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.  Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/  
 

[Archive Interview from Nov 19, 2020] 

Retired Air Force General David Goldfein says,  “The higher you go in rank and responsibility the harder the decisions are, and they should be.” Dave spoke with HOW Institute Fellow, Dana H. Born, in the latest episode of HOW Conversations.   Dave tells Dana he’s learned it can be lonely at the top because when it comes to moral dilemmas and making tough decisions,  “some number of people are not going to like the direction you take, and so don't take the happy road, take the right road.”  

Dana and Gen. Goldfein discussed the need for recognizing when you have blinders on certain situations, how to develop moral leaders and making risk decisions. Hear more from Dave Goldfein about moral leadership including why it is important to have a diverse team around you and why leadership is a privilege.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority.  We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions.  We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.  Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/  

[Archive Interview from Oct 29, 2020]

Admiral William H. McRaven is the former director of U.S. Special Command Operations where he commanded the raid that killed Osama Bin Laden.  'Speaking truth to power can always be dangerous,'  but being truthful is the 'foundation of integrity,'  McRaven tells Brig. Gen. Dana H. Born in this episode of HOW Conversations.

The two also discussed bringing truth and trust to leadership, finding moral courage and making authentic apologies. Admiral McRaven explains how the truth can be dangerous, the need for having humility as a leader and how to create a wave of moral leadership.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority.  We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions.  We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.  Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/  

[Archive Interview from Oct 27, 2020]

On this episode of HOW Conversations, the CEO of Levi Strauss & Co. Chip Bergh tells Dov Seidman how difficult it was to learn only about 3% of Levi’s leadership management are black and how he’s leading the plan to fix the problem using transparency and humility. ‘A diverse organization at all levels will outperform a homogenous one every single time’ Chip tells Dov. 

Chip and Dov discuss the hard choice Chip had to make to lay off staff during the crises and what Chip learned about leadership from the Army. The two also talk about having a leadership playbook, CEO activism and the importance of taking care of yourself. 

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority.  We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions.  We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.  Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/  
 

[Archive Interview Oct 27, 2020]

Admiral James Stavridis says when leaders set positive goals and visions people will stand and deliver—leaders need to be “dealers of hope.”   Admiral Stavridis is a member of the board of The HOW Institute and an Operating Executive at the Carlyle Group.  He spoke with HOW Senior Fellow, Brigadier General Dana Born, in the first of a series of special HOW Conversations with military leaders.  

The two also discussed the difficulty of making decisions in moral nuance, leading with humility and the difference between leadership and character. Watch the full episode with Admiral Stavridis to learn more about the difference between leadership and character and which books every moral leader should read.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority.  We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions.  We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.  Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/  

[Archive Interview Oct 27, 2020]

Lt. General Nadja West, the recently retired Army’s top doctor, knows what it takes to be a successful moral leader. She was one of the first women to graduate from West Point and went on to earn a medical degree. Lt. Gen. West spent 37 years in the military rising to become a three-star general and the first black Surgeon General of the U.S. Army. 

In this episode of HOW Conversations, Lt. Gen. West spoke with Dana Born, HOW Fellow, about the importance of leading with dignity and respect, taking the time to be empathetic, and remembering your humility. The two also discussed finding your purpose, communicating with stakeholders of tough decisions and values-based frameworks for leading. Watch the full episode to learn more on moral leadership, leading with empathy and finding humility.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority.  We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions.  We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.  Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/  

[Archive interview from Oct 27, 2020] 

Nancy Gibbs, the former editor in chief of TIME magazine, the Lombard Director of the Shorenstein Center at Harvard Kennedy School and a HOW Institute Board member, says we are at an extraordinary moment in history.  Faced with the simultaneous crises of a pandemic, economic instability and social injustice, moral leadership has evolved from worthy pursuit to a critical survival skill.  In the premier episode of HOW Conversations Nancy speaks with Dov Seidman, founder and chairman of The HOW Institute for Society.

The two discuss shared truths in a fractured society, the thought of leadership as a survival skill and building frameworks. Watch the full interview to learn more about moral leadership, values-based frameworks and the imperative for rebuilding trust.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority.  We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions.  We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.  Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/