HOW Conversations – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this HOW Conversation, Dov Seidman sits down with Devika Bulchandani—COO of WPP, former CEO of Ogilvy, award-winning industry leader, and HOW Institute board member—for a candid and deeply human exploration of leadership in a world defined by speed, AI, and profound tension. 

Devika reflects on the values forged early in her life, her belief that humanity will always win, and the subtle but powerful shift from leading people to having people choose to follow you. She opens up about: 

-Building trust by giving it first 
-Why real leadership happens in micro-moments 
-Navigating the conflict between efficiency and effectiveness 
-The role of truth in creating movements that lead to lasting change 
-How hope is not only a strategy but an imperative 

This conversation is a masterclass in moral leadership, vulnerability, and what it looks like to stay human while leading at the highest levels. 

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/   

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, and nonprofit leadership, offering insights on listening, pausing under pressure, and meeting people where they are. From stewarding memory at one of America’s most sacred sites to guiding institutions through change, this conversation highlights how values-driven leadership can inspire resilience and hope for the future. 

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 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 need to unleash human magic. “The purpose of business is to contribute to the common good. It's the idea that you place people at the center because people are not a resource. I hate the words, human resources. People are the source. They're the inspiration and also the destination.” 

This week on HOW Conversations, Hubert speaks with HOW founder and chairman Dov Seidman about placing actions behind words, elevating those around us, and leading with a defined sense of purpose. Watch the full conversation now. 

Learn more about Hubert’s book The Heart of Business here: https://www.hubertjoly.org/book/  

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 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 received while in Nazi labor camps. 

This week on HOW Conversations, Dr. Kirschner spoke with Dana Born, Distinguished Fellow at The HOW Institute, about another thread she follows: public education. “Public education changes people’s lives," she says. Growing up in Jackson Heights, Queens, “going to New York City public schools, they were not only educating me, they were educating the whole family.”

Dr. Kirschner also speaks on the need for rebuilding trust in higher education and how getting out of your own experience can help build moral muscle.

Check out Sala's Gift here: https://www.simonandschuster.com/book... 

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 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 Conversations, Mr. Monahan spoke with Dana Born, Distinguished Fellow at The HOW Institute, about fueling that curiosity and embracing humility. “Anyone who’s lucky enough to lead people and have had professional success, who doesn’t work the word “luck” into their first twenty words of their story has some soul-searching to do.”  

Even after years of success across various sectors, Mr. Monahan has a tenacious passion for developing and impacting emerging leaders.

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 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 Transportation under the Obama administration.  

This week on HOW Conversations, Mr. Foxx spoke with Dana Born, Distinguished Fellow at The HOW Institute, about creating a wave of empowering those around you. “If you are someone who works with me, you’re also a 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 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 diversity to solve societal challenges. On this episode of HOW Conversations, Dr. Patel spoke with Dana Born, Distinguished Fellow at The HOW Institute, about why diversity is essential to a healthy democracy, how leaders need to build up institutions and why he thinks the United States is more like a pot-luck dinner, not a melting pot, “You want people to bring their best dish inspired by their identity and you want those dishes to mix and combine in interesting, creative and delicious ways, and in a space where people can have enriching conversations.” 

B sure to check out Eboo Patel’s new book, We Need to Build, Field Notes for Diverse Democracy. 

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 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 the magic can happen.”

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 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, your unit gets better. Empathy is key to that, from a moral leadership perspective.”   

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 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, who is also on the Board of Directors of The HOW Institute, believes philanthropy must harness hope and move beyond charity to address both dignity and justice. 
 
Order your copy of From Generosity to Justice:
https://www.fordfoundation.org/news-a....

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/