From a Functional to a Free Society

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.