Management as a Liberal Art

Karen Linkletter
  • 5.0 (2)
  • MANAGEMENT

An ongoing exploration of Peter Drucker's vision of a functioning society based on human dignity in life, work, and community. In these episodes, we will aim to expand the knowledge and practice of Drucker's concepts through ongoing dialog with leading thought leaders.

  1. 12/15/2025

    From a Functional to a Free Society

    In this podcast, listeners are introduced to Peter Drucker’s early effort to explain why industrial society broke down and why so many people were drawn to totalitarian movements. It highlights his argument that the appeal of Nazism and Fascism stemmed not just from coercion but from the meaning and status they offered amid widespread social despair. The episode then shows how Drucker used this diagnosis to develop a broader theory of what makes a society function, emphasizing legitimacy, freedom, and the vital role of institutions.

    21 min

  2. 11/17/2025

    Trust, Change, and Leadership in Health Systems: A Conversation with Sheryl Thiessen

    In this episode, we sit down with Dr. Sheryl Thiessen, author of “Change Readiness of Laboratory Leaders in the System-Level Organization,” to explore how trust, communication, and engagement shape the success of transformational change in healthcare systems. Drawing on her action research with British Columbia’s Provincial Laboratory Medicine Services, Dr. Thiessen shares what it takes for leaders to move from skepticism to commitment, why trust is the foundation of organizational agility, and how collective identity can be cultivated during large-scale system reform. Listeners will gain actionable insights on fostering readiness for change, building transparent communication channels, and leading teams through uncertainty with authenticity and purpose.

    37 min

  3. 08/18/2025

    Digital Social Capital: The Hidden Currency for Startup Growth

    In this episode of the Management as a Liberal Art Podcast, Dr. Rob Kirkland speaks with Dr. Cynthia Cheng about her groundbreaking research on digital social capital and its growing influence on startup funding success. Drawing from her experience in venture capital and her recent publication in the Transdisciplinary Journal of Management, Dr. Cheng explains how founders can strategically build trust, visibility, and credibility online through structural, relational, and cognitive dimensions of social capital. The discussion covers platform-specific strategies for LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube, the differences between crowdfunding and venture capital approaches, and why consistent, authentic engagement matters more than raw follower counts. Packed with practical insights, this conversation reframes a startup’s digital presence as not just marketing, but an essential part of its funding strategy.

  4. 08/04/2025

    You Better Bereave It: Creating Compassionate Workplaces

    In this episode, Dr. Rob Kirkland speaks with Katie Hansen, author of Working Through Grief, about the often-overlooked impact of grief in the workplace. Drawing from her own experiences and recent research, Katie explores how organizations fall short in supporting grieving employees—particularly through limited bereavement policies, lack of flexibility, and poor communication around available resources. She highlights the critical importance of emotional, informational, and practical support, emphasizing that how a company responds to grief directly influences employee engagement, satisfaction, and retention. Katie also introduces her new initiative, You Better Bereave It, aimed at reshaping how workplaces approach grief with empathy and preparedness.

  5. 06/25/2025

    Purpose-Driven Beauty: Aishwariya Kannan on Building Amohas with Integrity and Innovation

    In this episode, we sit down with Aishwariya Kannan, founder of the plant-based skincare brand Amohas and a student at the California Institute of Advanced Management (CIAM). Aishwariya shares how her passion for transparency, sustainability, and science-led product development shaped her entrepreneurial journey. We explore how her education at CIAM and the philosophy of Management as a Liberal Art (MLA) inform her approach to ethical leadership, brand building, and personal growth.

  6. 06/12/2025

    "Never Again Is Now” Use of Cultural Frames in a Social Movement Organization

    In this episode, author Erik Carlson talks about his article published in the Transdisciplinary Journal of Management which explores the Never Again Action protest group and their use of the cultural frame of the Holocaust to mobilize individuals in support of the goal to end to all deportations and abolish Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

  7. 05/26/2025

    It Can’t Be All About You: Lewin, Drucker, and the Social Psychology of Leadership

    In this episode, the authors talk about their article published in the Transdisciplinary Journal of Management which discusses employee engagement, the importance of securing employees’ commitment to the goals and values of an organization, and a concept of “trust” that is based on traditions from sociology and social psychology.

  8. 05/06/2025

    Neal Tyler on Police Leadership

    In this episode Neal Tyler reveals the essence of effective police leadership, i.e. caring about people having a long and fulfilling career by dedicating themselves to trusting relationships, respect, and doing the right thing. And leaders in other fields will find that many of these ideas apply to their chosen work.

    24 min
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About

An ongoing exploration of Peter Drucker's vision of a functioning society based on human dignity in life, work, and community. In these episodes, we will aim to expand the knowledge and practice of Drucker's concepts through ongoing dialog with leading thought leaders.

Information

  • Creator
    Karen Linkletter
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2025
  • Episodes
    40
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2026 Management as a Liberal Art Karen Linkletter