Claim OwnershipHOW Conversations
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Moral leaders enable people to contribute their fullest talent, realize their deepest humanity, and do the next right things. Above all, moral leadership is about how leaders touch hearts, not just minds. HOW Conversations highlights moral leadership in action and the positive results--across all levels of society--when those in leadership positions are moral leaders. In each episode, a host from the HOW Institute talks with a remarkable leader about their personal experiences and how they use their leadership framework to guide their thinking. HOW Conversations is an opportunity for listeners to pause and reflect on these experiences and learnings.
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How do leaders navigate moments of profound loss, transformation, and hope? In this HOW Conversation, Dana Born sits down with Dr. Beth Hillman – Air Force veteran, legal scholar, former president of Mills College, and now President & CEO of the 9/11 Memorial & Museum. Together, they explore lessons in moral courage, civic responsibility, and the power of education to shape not only informed citizens, but moral ones. Dr. Hillman shares her journey across the military, academia,...
[Archive Interview from Aug 20, 2025] What does it take to build one of the largest women-founded and women-owned construction companies in the United States—and lead with purpose through challenges, pivots, and loss? In this HOW Conversation, Dana Born sits down with Linda Rabbitt, Founder of Rand Construction, to explore her journey of resilience, mentorship, and moral leadership. From lessons learned from her father to navigating setbacks, grief, and reinvention, Linda shares how she has ...
[Archive interview from Jul 17, 2025] What does it mean to lead with moral clarity when the stakes are high and the pressure is on? In this episode of HOW Conversations, Dana Born sits down with Chip Brewer, President & CEO of Topgolf Callaway Brands, for a compelling discussion on leadership grounded in values, integrity, and bold decision-making. From pausing before acting in moments of controversy, to building cultures that prioritize innovation and character, Chip shares powerful st...
[Archive Interview from Jun 17, 2025] In this powerful HOW Conversation, HOW founder Dov Seidman sits down with Shannon Watts, founder of Moms Demand Action and author of Fired Up, to explore how an ordinary moment turned into a national movement. Shannon shares how moral courage, storytelling, and a refusal to quit helped build the nation’s largest grassroots group fighting gun violence. They discuss: How Shannon turned outrage into organized action after Sandy Hook Lessons...
[Archive Interview from May 28, 2025] What does it mean to lead with integrity when the whole world is watching? In this inspiring HOW Conversation, Chief Master Sergeant Jo Bass—the first woman and Asian American to hold the top enlisted role in the U.S. Air Force—opens up about her journey, the evolution of purpose, and what it really takes to lead with moral courage. From humble beginnings and a Honda Civic to guiding over 600,000 service members, Chief Bass shares hard-earne...
[Archive Interview from May 13, 2025] In this thoughtful and inspiring conversation, Dr. Nitin Nohria, 10th Dean of Harvard Business School, opens up to Dov Seidman about the profound life experiences and inner shifts that shaped his views on leadership, trust, and power. From his early journey as an immigrant to his influential role guiding one of the world’s top business schools, Dr. Nohria reflects on: ✔️ Learning humility through failure ✔️ The impact of mentorship and teachi...
[Archive Interview from Apr 24, 2025] How do we build organizations for the future? What does it take to build organizations—and a society—that are truly fit for the future? In this powerful conversation, Zia Khan, Chief Innovation Officer at the Rockefeller Foundation, shares how innovation grounded in moral leadership can transform not only the social sector, but how we all work together to create real, enduring impact. Speaking with HOW Founder Dov Seidman, Zia reflects on hi...
[Archive Interview from Apr 8, 2025] In this inspiring conversation, legendary arts leader Deborah Borda—former President of the New York Philharmonic and LA Phil—shares hard-won insights on what it means to lead with purpose, innovation, and integrity in the world of classical music. From redefining what an orchestra can be, to championing diversity and education, Deborah reveals how she navigated some of the most prestigious cultural institutions with bold vision, moral leadership and deep ...
[Archive Interview from Jun 24, 2024] Dr. Wayne Frederick is known as a decorated surgeon and former university president, but now showcases his talent for storytelling. Blending beautiful memories of growing up in Trinidad with navigating the complex world of leadership, Dr. Frederick has a flair for using past experiences to get better each day. Dr. Frederick suggests, “Every day when you get home, you should ask yourself two questions. What did I do today and how well did I do it? How much...
[Archive interview from May 30, 2024] Hubert Joly has worn many hats throughout his life: CEO, author, educator. But no single hat defines his soul. He explains, “I was not the CEO of Best Buy. I had that job, but that was not who I was. Clarity around our purpose in life, I think that's truly foundational.” Former CEO of electronic retailer Best Buy and current senior lecturer at Harvard Business School, Hubert Joly has decades of experience leading people and has declared that we ne...
[Archive Interview from Apr 25, 2024] “I have a lack of fear of change,” says Dr. Ann Kirschner, a fearless leader known for her pursuit of new challenges and new opportunities. Dr. Kirschner, who is currently the interim president of Hunter College, follows the thread of reinvention, and it’s evident from her diverse background. She’s involved in classrooms and boardrooms, a pioneer in digital technology, and authored Sala’s Gift: My Mother’s Holocaust Story – based off letters her mother re...
[Archive Interview from Mar 27, 2024] Tom Monahan has always been curious. In childhood exploring his grandparents’ carnival (still in the family today), he’d pepper each guest with questions about the rides and games. “If you ask people, they’ll tell you stuff.” Mr. Monahan, who was recently tapped as CEO of the executive search firm Heidrick & Struggles, keeps his inquisitive nature front and center, always ready to be inspired by a friendly conversation. This week on HOW ...
[Archive Interview from Jan 18, 2024] Anthony Foxx knows the power of someone believing in you. “Like many kids I needed to hear, and heard often, that there was something special about me. And I started to believe that.” Mr. Foxx is currently a Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. Before that, he served as the 54th Mayor of the city of Charlotte and was the city’s youngest mayor in history. He then moved on to serve as the 17th U.S. Secretary of Trans...
[Archive Interview from Oct 25, 2023] Leadership Means Doing the Hard Work of Building Up Institutions Eboo Patel knows leadership is hard work, “Anybody who runs a YMCA, anybody who is a principal of a school, anybody who runs an athletic team, you know that what you have to do is show up everyday and move a half inch forward. That is what building a society looks like.” Dr. Patel is the Founder and President of Interfaith America, a unique organization that leverages religious diversi...
[Archive Interview from Sep 21, 2023] Lisa Sherman, President and CEO of the Ad Council, joins The HOW Institute Founder and Chairman Dov Seidman on an all-new episode of HOW Conversations. Together they discuss the new challenges that face leaders in a morally activated world and the frameworks leaders need to help them decide when they should lean-in on social issues. “Finding that intersection as a leader these days between your company’s purpose and an individual’s purpose...that’s where ...
{Archive Interview from Aug 17, 2023] On this episode of HOW Conversations we welcome Lieutenant General Brian W. Cavanaugh, a Marine Commander. He joined Distinguished HOW Fellow, Dana Born to talk about how Lt. Gen. Cavanaugh draws inspiration from the junior Marines under his command and the importance of leading with empathy, “If you can really walk in other people’s shoes and understand where they are going you can help them get there. And every time you help someone in your unit, ...
[Archive Interview from Jul 20, 2023] Darren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation, joined Dov Seidman, Founder of The HOW Institute, on a new episode of HOW Conversations to discuss Mr. Walker’s new book, From Generosity to Justice: A New Gospel of Wealth. “I was born into an America that believed in my promise.” Mr. Walker tells Dov, “I had hope, hope is the oxygen of democracy. And philanthropy is, in some ways, the business of hope.” Watch the full episode to learn why Mr. Walker, wh...
[Archive Interview from Jun 15, 2023] “I don’t think there is such a thing as leadership without ethical or moral leadership,” Deval Patrick tells Dana Born on this episode of HOW Conversations. The Honorable Patrick served two terms as the governor of Massachusetts, the first Black person to serve in that role. He is now a professor of practice and the co-director of the Center for Public Leadership at the Harvard Kennedy School. Watch the discussion with Governor Patrick and Disting...
[Archive Interview from May 11, 2023] “We need to talk a lot more about love,” Dr. Brenda Cassellius tells HOW Fellow Dana Born on HOW Conversations. “Leaders are constantly giving out love to their teams, to their mission and their purpose. Showing love and doing that unconditionally gives people hope.” Dr. Cassellius has been an educator, administrator and leader and was recently named Executive Director for Fresh Energy. Over her 30-year career she’s learned that moral leaders inspir...
[Archive Interview from Apr 26, 2023] Rear Admiral Shoshana Chatfield knows that making a difficult decision is never easy, but when done with thought and care, it is an opportunity to learn and grow, “Being a moral leader is being a leader who is willing to engage ethically in self-reflection and also in a broader conversation about how and why we are doing things.” Rear Admiral Chatfield is the President of the Naval War College, the first woman to hold that position. She spoke with HOW Fel...
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