Can leaders succeed without character?

Can leaders truly succeed without character? In this episode of Dialogue with the Dean, Julian Birkinshaw sits down with Dusya Vera, Professor of Strategy and Executive Director of the Ian O. Ihnatowycz Institute for Leadership, to explore the role of leader character in business and beyond.

Drawing from her expertise, Dusya breaks down what character really means, why it’s essential for effective leadership, and how it can be developed. The conversation also tackles a pressing paradox: Why do some leaders without strong character still rise to power? From business boardrooms to political arenas, this discussion unpacks the risks of character gaps and the long-term consequences for organizations and society.

Whether you’re a business leader, aspiring executive, or simply intrigued by what makes great leaders, this episode offers a thought-provoking look at the critical link between character and success.

To learn more about the research discussed in this episode, please visit: 

Leader Character in Engineering Projects: A Case Study of Character Activation, Contagion, and Embeddedness: https://ieeexplore.ieee.org/document/10168287 

Character-enabled improvisation and the new normal: A paradox perspective: https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/13505076221118840