Shows
HOW ConversationsAngela Ahrendts, Board Chair, Save the Children International [Part 2][Archive Interview from March 12, 2021]Angela Ahrendts believes success comes from putting others first and utilizing values-based leadership frameworks, “My definition of moral leadership is always doing what’s best for the greater good of the whole, not yourself, not your boss, not your board.” Angela, a HOW Institute Board Member and the Chair of Save the Children International, spoke with Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman of The HOW Institute, on the second part of their HOW Conversations. The two discuss how seeing humanity in others leads to a more thoughtful work culture, fostering meaningful connections and the...2025-08-0129 minHOW ConversationsAngela Ahrendts, Board Chair, Save the Children International [Part 1][Archive Interview from March 4, 2021]“Deep values help build deep trust. Deep trust empowers individuals. And it unites groups of people, ordinary people, to collectively do extraordinary things,” says Angela Ahrendts, a member of the Board of The HOW Institute and the Chair of the Board of Save the Children International. Angela spoke with Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman of The HOW Institute, on this special episode of HOW Conversations. Angela is the catalyst behind The HOW Institute's research report Human Connection in the Virtual Workplace. The report found that since the start of the pandemic human c...2025-07-3124 minHOW ConversationsPaul Polman, former CEO, Unilever [Part 2][Archive Interview Feb 25, 2021]When leaders invest in others it drives their own success forward says Paul Polman, member of the Board of The HOW Institute. Paul spoke with Dov Seidman, Founder and Chairman of The HOW Institute in Part Two of their HOW Conversations. If investing in others works for individuals then, “it must be true for companies as well, because companies are a collective of individuals” says Paul. But putting others, not just shareholders, at the center of the company takes moral courage and needs a framework. Paul co-founded IMAGINE, an organization that is helping...2025-07-3029 minHOW ConversationsPaul Polman, former CEO, Unilever [Part 1][Archive Interview Feb 18, 2021]“COVID has been a rude awakening for most of us. For the first time we have seen that our current system isn't really working as well as we intended,” says Paul Polman a HOW Institute Board Member and the former CEO of Unilever. Paul spoke with Dov Seidman, Founder of The HOW Institute, in this episode of HOW Conversations about the challenges and the opportunities the pandemic has revealed. Paul told Dov that a greener, more inclusive future is within reach but it will take moral leadership and courage from individuals plus stron...2025-07-2924 minHOW ConversationsEllen Ochoa, former Astronaut and Director, Johnson Space Center[Archive Interview Feb 4, 2021]The first time Ellen Ochoa applied to NASA’s space program she wasn’t selected but she saw her rejection as an opportunity, “Sometimes people ask, ‘Well, how did you cope with that failure?’ But I didn’t really see it as a failure. I knew the odds were low, and I had the chance to go to Johnson Space Center to meet other astronauts and get some ideas of what might make me a better candidate in the future.” Not long afterwards Ellen was selected. She went on to become the first Hispanic, woman astronaut...2025-07-2838 minHOW ConversationsGeneral Janet Wolfenbarger, Air Force, Retired[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 wor...2025-07-2527 minHOW ConversationsChief Master Sergeant Kaleth O. Wright, Air Force, Retired[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 hi...2025-07-2428 minHOW ConversationsGeneral Stanley McChrystal, Army, Retired[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...2025-07-2329 minHOW ConversationsDarren Walker, President of the Ford Foundation[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 t...2025-07-2233 minHOW ConversationsGeneral David Goldfein, Air Force, Retired[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 discus...2025-07-2128 minHOW ConversationsAdmiral William H. McRaven, Navy, Retired[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...2025-07-1830 minHOW ConversationsChip Bergh, former CEO, Levi Strauss[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 a...2025-07-1735 minHOW ConversationsAdmiral James Stavridis, Navy, Retired[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 Admi...2025-07-1627 minHOW ConversationsLt. General Nadja West, Army, Retired[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 tim...2025-07-1531 minHOW ConversationsNancy Gibbs, Director, Shorenstein Center[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...2025-07-1434 minHOW ConversationsDavid GoldfeinIn this installment of the HOW Conversations podcast, co-host Dana Born had the honor of chatting with her former classmate at the Air Force Academy, retired U.S. Air Force General David Goldfein. General Goldfein – who prefers to be called Dave now that he’s retired - dedicated his life’s work to serving the United States, notedly referring to his job as a sacred duty. During his time as a command pilot he was shot down, rescued and led missions to rescue others. By the time Dave retired in 2020 he was the Chief of Staff of the Air Force, o...2022-03-1125 minHOW ConversationsAngela AhrendtsFor this episode of HOW Conversations, Dov Seidman spoke with Angela Ahrendts. Angela is an incredibly inspirational person who has always endeavored to put heart and humanity at the center of business. Her list of accomplishments is long: she’s the former CEO of Burberry, a former Senior Vice President at Apple Retail, she’s also a member of the HOW Institute for Society’s board of directors and she recently joined the Save the Children International as the Chair of the Board. Dov and Angela's conversation touches on leading with empathy and the importance of human connection at work. 2022-03-1118 minHOW ConversationsDarren WalkerIn this installment of the HOW Conversations podcast, Dov Seidman speaks with Darren Walker, the President of the Ford Foundation, a global, social-justice philanthropy. Under Darren’s leadership, the Ford Foundation became the first non-profit in US history to issue a $1 billion social bond. The proceeds were used to strengthen and stabilize non-profit organizations in the wake of COVID-19. Darren is also a board member of The HOW Institute, he is at the vanguard of the kind of leadership we need in this world. In this conversation Darren shares his insights on the urgent need for moral leadership, and the...2022-03-1126 minHOW ConversationsAjay BangaAjay Banga is the former Executive Chairman and CEO of Mastercard, during Ajay’s 12-year tenure, Mastercard’s revenue tripled, but what makes Ajay so admirable is how he led Mastercard with his heart, putting moral decency at the center of the culture and of all decision making. He has proven that companies can do well by doing good. Ajay's conversation with Dov Seidman took place in 2021 just as Ajay was wrapping up his time at Mastercard and he was reflecting on how he, and other leaders at the company, had paused and then pivoted to help employees deal with...2022-02-1723 minHOW ConversationsEllen OchoaEllen Ochoa is a real trailblazer – she became the first Hispanic woman to go to space and the first Hispanic and second woman to serve as the director of NASA's Johnson Space Center. All in, Ellen has spent more than 1000 hours in space. She spoke with The HOW Institute's senior fellow, Dana Born, about how redefining failure has helped her succeed as an astronaut and a leader. 2022-02-1726 minHOW ConversationsSenator Cory BookerSenator Booker has devoted his life to public service, from his position as Mayor of Newark to becoming New Jersey’s first Black senator to then throwing his hat in the ring for President of the United States in 2020. Throughout it all he has endeavored to lead with compassion, empathy and humility. Senator Booker spoke with Dov Seidman about how, when there are so many forces out there trying to divide us, we are stronger when we come together. 2022-02-1621 minHOW ConversationsAngela AhrendtsFormer Burberry CEO, former Apple SVP and current chair for Save the Children International, Angela Ahrendts joins founder and executive chairman of The HOW Institute Dov Seidman for a discussion on human connection in the workplace and the power of trust and love in business. 2022-02-0918 minHOW ConversationsDavid GoldfeinRetired 4-star general and former Air Force chief of staff, David Goldfein, joins HOW Conversations with HOW Institute senior fellow Dana Born. David and Dana attended the Air Force academy together and discuss leading with service-first mentality. David talks about taking a pause when making tough decisions and using character as a foundation. 2022-02-0825 min