Episode 41: “Humanistic Leadership, Dignity, and the Courage to Reimagine Business Education” with Professor Michael Pirson

What if leadership isn’t about control, status, or “winning”—but about protecting dignity and promoting well-being?In this episode of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons and Jason Viyar sit down with Professor Michael Pirson, a global voice in humanistic management and humanistic leadership. Michael is the James F. Stoner Endowed Chair in Global Sustainability at Fordham University, Editor-in-Chief of the Humanistic Management Journal, and a leader in global efforts to transform leadership and business education toward human flourishing. Together, they explore why modern systems so often normalize burnout, extraction, and “transaction-only” relationships—and what changes when organizations choose a different foundation.In this conversation, you’ll learn:Why dignity is a “feature, not a bug” of being humanHow humanistic leadership opens a broader, more rigorous path to flourishingWhy purely transactional cultures lead to innovation poverty and lonelinessWhat the research says about how trust emerges and erodes—and why shared purpose mattersWhy measurement matters—and why wisdom and mindfulness must guide the use of metricsWhat’s broken in traditional business education—and what must be reimagined if we’re serious about flourishingMemorable themes:Human Dignity • Trust • Mindfulness • Well-being • Love and Care in organizations • Moral Imagination • Humanistic Management • Business Education Reform • Human Flourishing • Leadership Development🎧 Listen now and join the movement toward leadership that helps people—and institutions—come alive.Connect & Learn MoreMichael Pirson LinkedInHumanistic Leadership AcademyThank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast! Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey.Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders AcademySubscribe & Follow: Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google | YouTube Share this episode with someone who’s ready to lead with integrity and flourish in every domain of life. Connect with Scott: LinkedIn | [email protected] with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.