Management as a Liberal Art

Management as a Liberal Art Research Institute
  • 5.0 (2)
  • Business

An ongoing exploration of Peter F. Drucker’s vision of a functioning society grounded in human dignity—across life, work, and community. In this podcast, we engage with thought leaders, practitioners, and scholars to explore the evolving nature of leadership, organizations, and human potential, and to examine how these ideas translate into adaptive, innovative, and purposeful organizations that drive meaningful impact.

  1. May 20

    Human-centered Decision Science: Focusing on Purpose, Ethical Responsibility, and Designing Systems for Human Needs

    In this episode of the Management as a Liberal Art podcast, Dr. Byron Ramirez speaks with Dr. Kyungchan Park to explore the evolving intersection of artificial intelligence, decision science, and human-centered decision making. Dr. Park discusses the state of AI, the importance of ethical and human-centered technology, and why leaders must balance technical expertise with critical thinking, creativity, and human judgment in an increasingly data-driven world.

  2. Apr 22

    Crafting a Life of Impact: Management Beyond One Discipline

    In this episode of the Management as a Liberal Art podcast, Dr. Byron Ramirez speaks with Dr. Maria Akopian about her career and journey through music, television, healthcare, marketing, and academia. Dr. Akopian shares insight about creative expression, storytelling, leadership, and managing a diverse career with purpose and resilience.

    1h 4m

  3. Apr 1

    Why Manager Engagement Matters More than Ever

    This episode explores why manager engagement is a critical yet often overlooked driver of organizational success, as the host speaks with Christina Watt about her research on post-COVID practices across leading U.S. companies. Drawing on interviews with Fortune 100 and 500 organizations, they discuss how managers shape the majority of the employee experience, the growing pressures they face in hybrid work environments, and the gaps many organizations have in supporting them effectively. The conversation highlights key findings such as unclear ownership of manager programs, competing demands on managers’ time, and inconsistent development and communication systems, while also offering practical recommendations including structured engagement programs, clearer expectations, and better alignment between leadership behaviors and performance systems.

  4. 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

  5. 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

  6. 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.

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

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Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

An ongoing exploration of Peter F. Drucker’s vision of a functioning society grounded in human dignity—across life, work, and community. In this podcast, we engage with thought leaders, practitioners, and scholars to explore the evolving nature of leadership, organizations, and human potential, and to examine how these ideas translate into adaptive, innovative, and purposeful organizations that drive meaningful impact.

Information

  • Creator
    Management as a Liberal Art Research Institute
  • Years Active
    2021 - 2026
  • Episodes
    43
  • Rating
    Clean