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Do Good To Lead Well with Craig Dowden

Do Good To Lead Well with Craig Dowden

Craig Dowden 199 Episodes Aug 21, 2026

This podcast is dedicated to mastering self-leadership through evidence-based principles from positive psychology and organizational excellence. Host Craig Dowden integrates science and practice to help listeners develop real-life solutions for their greatest challenges. Each week, industry experts share world-class content on using positive leadership to build a peak performance culture.

Episodes

Anchoring Leadership in Purpose and Values: Part 3 of a 3-Part Series on the Foundations of Positive Leadership (with an award-winning CEO)
Anchoring Leadership in Purpose and Values: Part 3 of a 3-Part Series on the Foundations of Positive Leadership (with an award-winning CEO) Aug 21, 2026 00:45:15 Over the past three episodes, I had a very special guest; Kevin Ford, the former CEO of Calian. Our previous conversations trace a powerful progression from self-leadership to connecting with others. In the final episode of this series, we explore how a profound sense of purpose united by a set of core values truly anchors an organization. Our discussion moves beyond corporate clichés, as we dig i
Leading with Candor, Respect, and Empathy: Part 2 of a 3-Part Series on the Foundations of Positive Leadership (with an award-winning CEO)
Leading with Candor, Respect, and Empathy: Part 2 of a 3-Part Series on the Foundations of Positive Leadership (with an award-winning CEO) Aug 13, 2026 00:58:24 In this episode of our 3-part series exploring the foundations of positive leadership, I speak with Kevin Ford, the award-winning, past CEO of Calian Group, about how to effectively connect with others. In a world grappling with AI, remote work, and breakneck change, we examine explore what meaningful connection looks like in practice. Starting with candor and transparency, our discussion explores
First, Leader Yourself: A 3-Part Series on the Foundations of Positive Leadership (with an award-winning CEO)
First, Leader Yourself: A 3-Part Series on the Foundations of Positive Leadership (with an award-winning CEO) Aug 6, 2026 00:43:42 What makes great executives stand out? I’m thrilled to share Part 1 of a 3-part series that will explore the foundations of positive leadership. Throughout this special set of episodes, I will be sharing the stage with Kevin Ford, the award-winning CEO of Calian who recently stepped down. In this episode, Kevin and I start the conversation by taking an honest look at why leading yourself matters m
The Benefits of Sabbatical Leave: Lessons from DJ DiDonna
The Benefits of Sabbatical Leave: Lessons from DJ DiDonna Jul 23, 2026 00:48:56 What happens when you leave your routine behind to embrace uncertainty? DJ DiDonna, Harvard Business School senior lecturer and founder of the Sabbatical Project, joins Craig Dowden to unpack the real benefits of sabbatical leave, drawn from years of research into hundreds of sabbatical-takers. DiDonna explains why extended leave delivers measurable physical healing, from resolving stress conditio
How to Stop Having the Same Difficult Conversation: Practice C.P.R.
How to Stop Having the Same Difficult Conversation: Practice C.P.R. Jul 16, 2026 00:22:05 This solo episode of Do Good to Lead Well focuses on one of the most common challenges in both leadership and everyday life: continually repeating the same difficult conversation without real resolution. Drawing on the important work of Crucial Conversations and Crucial Accountability, I explore the transformative CPR model (Content, Pattern, Relationship) as a deceptively simple framework for bre
Design Love Into Leadership: Unlocking the Power of Human Flourishing with Marcus Buckingham
Design Love Into Leadership: Unlocking the Power of Human Flourishing with Marcus Buckingham Jul 9, 2026 00:53:19 In this not-to-miss episode of Do Good to Lead Well, I am joined by Marcus Buckingham—the world’s foremost expert on human strengths and engagement—for a candid, data-rich conversation about bringing love into leadership. Drawing on his latest book, Marcus redefines love for the modern workplace: not as romance, but as an intentional design for human flourishing and extraordinary results.Our conve
Mastering the Art of Receiving Feedback: Triggers, Reactions, and Strategies for Positive Leadership
Mastering the Art of Receiving Feedback: Triggers, Reactions, and Strategies for Positive Leadership Jul 3, 2026 00:27:52 What stops talented leaders from truly hearing honest feedback? This episode tackles that question head-on, drawing from both leading research and lived experience. While most articles, books, and workshops focus on how to give feedback, this discussion targets how to receive it. I explore why so many feedback conversations break down and how leaders can do better.Core themes include the impact of
Leadership Lessons from Philanthropy: Glen Galaich’s Insights on Letting Go to Do Real Good
Leadership Lessons from Philanthropy: Glen Galaich’s Insights on Letting Go to Do Real Good Jun 18, 2026 00:51:15 In this spirited episode, the challenges and paradoxes of modern leadership are brought to the forefront, grounded in the world of philanthropy. My guest this week, Glen Galaich, author of the provocative book Control: Why Big Giving Falls Short and CEO of the Stupski Foundation, invites listeners to reconsider the myths surrounding control, generosity, and decision-making. He makes the compelling
What Defines a Great Leader Today? Global Insights from Allison Howell (CEO, Hogan Assessments
What Defines a Great Leader Today? Global Insights from Allison Howell (CEO, Hogan Assessments Jun 11, 2026 00:47:00 How do you bridge the divide between how leaders show up and what teams truly want? On this week’s episode of the Do Good to Lead Well podcast, I sit down with Allison Howell, CEO of Hogan Assessments, to discuss their Leadership Divide Global Report, which draws on the responses from 9,794 employees across 25 countries. The findings challenge the conventional myths about what makes a great leader
Why Empathy and Honest Communication Matter More Than Ever for AI-Driven Organizations with Joshua Gould
Why Empathy and Honest Communication Matter More Than Ever for AI-Driven Organizations with Joshua Gould Jun 4, 2026 00:53:46 What does great leadership look like when AI is moving faster than most organizations can keep up? To answer this important question, I spoke with Joshua Gould, the CEO of thebigword, a global language technology and services company, where he helped grow the business from $6M to over $100M in revenue. In 2021 he sold the business to a large US based PE firm and continued on as CEO, where he has l
Incorruptible Leadership Lessons from Eric Ries: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great
Incorruptible Leadership Lessons from Eric Ries: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great May 28, 2026 00:52:21 This week on the Do Good to Lead Well podcast, I sit down with bestselling author Eric Ries for a timely and thought-provoking conversation about leadership, mission, and the growing crisis of short-term thinking in business.Eric first transformed the entrepreneurial world with The Lean Startup. In his latest book, Incorruptible, he tackles a new challenge: why so many organizations lose sight of
The Power of ATP (Authenticity, Transparency, Positivity) – A Conversation with an Award-Winning CEO of an $800 Million Business
The Power of ATP (Authenticity, Transparency, Positivity) – A Conversation with an Award-Winning CEO of an $800 Million Business May 21, 2026 00:20:47 On this week’s episode of Do Good to Lead Well, I am joined by Kevin Ford, the former CEO of Calian, whose track record as a transformational CEO sets the stage for a candid exploration of what really drives lasting personal and business success.We start by asking the question: Are authenticity and transparency more critical than ever in the age of AI? Our answer is a resounding ‘yes.’ We continue

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