Leading Matters

By: Knight-Hennessy Scholars Stanford University
  • Summary

  • Join Tina Seelig, Executive Director of Knight-Hennessy Scholars (KHS) as she interviews KHS Founder and Director John Hennessy on leadership. The topics they discuss are drawn from the Knight-Hennessy Leadership Model, which forms the basis of the KHS leadership development program. In their conversations, John shares about his experiences and what he has learned in different leadership roles, including as a faculty member, entrepreneur, president of Stanford University, and founder of Knight-Hennessy Scholars. Follow us on social media (@knighthennessy) and visit our website (kh.stanford.edu) for more about KHS.
    Copyright 2024 Knight-Hennessy Scholars, Stanford University
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Episodes
  • Addressing Leadership Challenges: Strategies for Success
    Sep 18 2024

    Addressing the complex challenges of leadership.

    Tina Seelig and John Hennessy delve into the challenges and strategies involved in leadership and leading a multifaceted institution such as Stanford University. From navigating conflicting goals and diverse constituencies to making tough decisions under scrutiny, John shares his insights on the importance of transparency, providing critical feedback, and fostering an environment where others can thrive. This conversation delves into the delicate balance of maintaining core values while adapting to the needs of different stakeholders, highlighting the nuances of decision-making, ethics, and the collaborative spirit essential for long-term success.

    Connect with us:

    Website

    LinkedIn

    Tina Seelig | LinkedIn

    Instagram

    X / Twitter

    Facebook

    YouTube

    Chapters:

    (00:00:00) Introduction

    Host Tina Seelig introduces the podcast and welcomes John Hennessy, discussing the episode's focus on leadership challenges.

    (00:01:31) Conflicting Goals in Leadership

    Managing conflicting goals with different constituents in the unique environment of a university.

    (00:03:06) Addressing Housing and Rent Issues

    The local community’s reaction to student housing and the complexities it created for university leadership.

    (00:04:21) Dealing with Criticism

    Handling criticism and backlash from key constituents when difficult decisions are made.

    (00:05:31) Living Wage Debate

    A memorable challenge involving a student-led hunger strike about living wages.

    (00:07:54) Confidentiality in Leadership

    Dealing with situations that require confidentiality and a lack of transparency in decision-making.

    (00:08:59) Giving Critical Feedback

    Advice on giving tough feedback, a critical skill in leadership development.

    (00:11:04) Transparency in Leadership

    The balance of transparency and discretion in leadership, especially in large institutions like Stanford.

    (00:12:35) Decision-Making Frameworks

    Different decision-making styles and their applications in leadership situations.

    (00:16:12) Challenging Negotiations

    The complexities of negotiation in leadership, particularly in university settings.

    (00:18:34) Stimulating Innovation as a Leader

    How leaders can create environments that foster innovation and creativity within their organizations.

    (00:23:50) Leadership Across Different Domains

    The similarities and differences in leadership styles across academia, government, and industry.

    (00:25:18) Collaborating Across Sectors

    Leadership across collaborations between different sectors, and the challenges that arise.

    (00:27:03) Evolving Leadership Style

    How John’s leadership style has evolved from individual contributor to leader of a large institution.

    (00:28:31) Empowering Others as a Leader

    The importance of...

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    32 mins
  • Leading with Integrity: The Power of Trust and Ethics in Leadership
    Sep 11 2024

    Navigate difficult decisions, maintain trust, and uphold strong core values.

    Explore the complexities of ethical leadership with Tina Seelig and John Hennessy as they share their experiences and insights. From handling ethical dilemmas to maintaining core values amidst challenges, John highlights the importance of honesty, trust, and organizational integrity. Tina leads a profound discussion on navigating gray areas where legality and ethics might conflict.

    Together, they uncover strategies for fostering trust, inoculating oneself against unethical decisions, and how a leader's values impact the culture of an entire institution.

    Connect with us:

    Website

    LinkedIn

    Tina Seelig | LinkedIn

    Instagram

    X / Twitter

    Facebook

    YouTube

    Chapters:

    (00:00:00) Introduction

    Host Tina Seelig introduces the topic of ethical and trustworthy leadership with John Hennessy.

    (00:01:05) Maintaining Ethics in Leadership

    How reputation and core values play crucial roles in leadership.

    (00:01:43) Dealing with Ethical Dilemmas

    Encountering unethical requests and the importance of standing by one’s principles.

    (00:03:46) Preventing Ethical Pitfalls

    Advice on preparing for ethical challenges.

    (00:05:04) Organizational Accountability

    The challenges of ensuring ethics within large organizations.

    (00:07:40) Ethical Decision-Making in Gray Areas

    Navigating situations that fall in the gray areas of legality and ethics.

    (00:10:48) Ethical Leadership and Core Values

    The importance of staying true to core values in leadership.

    (00:13:18) Trust and Crisis Management

    Why trust is crucial for managing crises and driving change within organizations.

    (00:16:00) Rebuilding Trust After a Crisis

    Rebuilding trust and the importance of addressing issues head-on.

    (00:18:19) Organizational Ethics and People

    How ethics rely on both leadership and individual actions within the organization.

    (00:20:05) Episode Takeaways

    Four key lessons for listeners from this episode.

    (00:20:36) Conclusion

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    21 mins
  • Leading with Impact: How Collaboration and Decisiveness Drive Success
    Sep 4 2024

    Collaboration and decisiveness shape effective leadership.

    Tina Seelig and John Hennessy examine the key leadership qualities of collaboration, analysis, and decisiveness. Their conversation highlights how effective leaders unite diverse teams, perform comprehensive analyses to make informed decisions, and take decisive action when the stakes are high. Drawing on real-world examples and lessons, the episode offers valuable insights for those seeking to strengthen their leadership skills and drive impactful change within their organizations.

    Connect with us:

    Website

    LinkedIn

    Tina Seelig | LinkedIn

    Instagram

    X / Twitter

    Facebook

    YouTube

    Chapters:

    (00:00:00) Introduction

    Host Tina Seelig introduces John Hennessey along with the episode’s focus on collaboration, analysis, and decisiveness.

    (00:00:57) Crafting a Team for Collaboration

    The importance of team-building, focusing on collaboration and complementary skills.

    (00:01:31) Strong Working Partnerships

    How a long-time professional partnership developed into a strong and effective working relationship.

    (00:03:08) Decision-Making on Stanford’s New York Campus

    The tough decision to evaluate and ultimately walk away from a potential campus expansion in New York.

    (00:05:55) Knowing When to Walk Away

    Insights into the process of pulling the plug on a major project when the risks outweigh the benefits.

    (00:09:10) Leadership in Everyday Decision-Making

    Balancing daily decision-making while overseeing larger projects within a big organization.

    (00:11:22) The Role of Delegation in Leadership

    Exploring the importance of delegation and fostering an environment of transparency and trust.

    (00:13:39) Incentives in a Decentralized Organization

    Levers of influence and how incentives can help guide faculty in a decentralized environment.

    (00:14:47) Prioritizing Long-Term Building Projects

    Prioritizing and executing large-scale building projects, including considerations for long-term growth.

    (00:16:51) Navigating Stanford’s General Use Permit

    The negotiations surrounding the university’s general use permit and its implications for future development.

    (00:19:08) Big Bets at Alphabet

    The decision-making process behind significant business investments.

    (00:21:39) Advice for Making Hard Decisions

    Improving the ability to make difficult decisions and the value of learning through practice.

    (00:24:05) Episode Takeaways

    Four key lessons for listeners from this episode.

    (00:24:35) Conclusion

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    25 mins

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