DBA Chronicles

Episode 058: Mental Health, Trust & Leadership: Moving Beyond Performative with Dr. Steve Winkle

What does it really take to build a psychologically safe workplace; one where people feel supported, not judged? In this episode of DBA Chronicles, we welcome back Dr. Steve Winkle, HR executive, leadership strategist, and mental health advocate, for a timely conversation during Mental Health Awareness Month. Steve shares insights from his DBA research on mental health disclosure in the workplace and what he found may surprise you. While many employees fear the consequences of speaking up, the reality tells a more hopeful story. Together, we explore the gap between perception and reality, the role of leadership in building trust, and why true psychological safety goes far beyond awareness campaigns. This conversation moves us from surface-level conversations to something deeper—how organizations can embed care, trust, and humanity into the very fabric of how they operate.  What you will learn: * Why employees fear disclosing mental health challenges and what actually happens when they do * The surprising finding: 79% of employees reported positive outcomes after disclosure * The difference between performative awareness and genuine psychological safety * Why trust not policy is the real foundation of workplace wellbeing * How leaders can create safe spaces through everyday actions, not just formal programs * The role of emotional intelligence, empathy, and active listening in leadership * Why mental health conversations must be part of culture not just the month of May  Why This Conversation Matters As organizations across the world continue to navigate burnout, stress, and evolving workplace expectations, the question is no longer whether we acknowledge mental health but whether we are creating systems that truly support it. Because culture is not what we say, it’s what people experience. Connect with Us LinkedIn: DBA Chronicles Website: www.dbachronicles.org [http://www.dbachronicles.org]   Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, share it with yournetwork and leave a review. Your support helps us continue amplifying the voices shaping the global DBA scholar-practitioner community.

Episode 057: The Pracademic Mindset with Dr. Larry Clay Jr.

What if building better systems starts with becoming better humans? In this powerful episode of DBA Chronicles, we sit down with Dr. Larry Clay Jr.—a design scientist, professor, and thought leader working at the intersection of innovation ecosystems, sustainability, and quantum thinking. From a childhood moment of curiosity (and a literal electric shock ) to designing flourishing cities and organizations, Dr. Clay shares a deeply personal and intellectual journey into how systems and people truly thrive.   What you will learn: * Why curiosity is the foundation of innovation and leadership * The shift from fixing systems  to transforming self * What quantum leadership and quantum design thinking really mean (and why they matter now) * How flourishing, not just performance should define success in organizations * The power of designing ecosystems, not just businesses * How tools like the Flourishing Business Model Canvas bridge theory and real-world impact  About the Guest Dr. Larry Clay Jr. is an Assistant Professor of Business at Marymount University’s College of BILT (Business, Innovation, Leadership & Technology), specializing in entrepreneurship, strategy, and innovation ecosystems. His work explores sustainability, complexity theory, and human-centered design helping organizations and communities move toward flourishing, not just functioning. Larry earned his Ph.D. in Management from Case Western Reserve University, where his dissertation focused on integrative ecosystem management and designing flourishing cities. Connect with Us LinkedIn: DBA Chronicles [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dba-chronicles/] Website: www.dbachronicles.org [http://www.dbachronicles.org]   Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, share it with your network and leave a review. Your support helps us continue amplifying the voices shaping the global DBA scholar-practitioner community.

Episode 056: Mental Health, Research, and the Courage to Be Seen at Work with Dr. Steve Winkel

In this episode of DBA Chronicles, we welcome Dr. Steve Winkel, Vice President of Talent and Engagement at Constant Contact, seasoned HR executive, and mental health advocate. With nearly two decades of experience in talent strategy and organizational development, Steve brings a rare and powerful perspective - one that sits at the intersection of research,leadership, and lived experience. As both a leader shaping workplace culture and an individual navigating mental health challenges, his work offers critical insights into what it truly means to build inclusive, human-centered organizations. Steve’s DBA research explores mental health disclosure in the workplace, examining how employee sentiment, psychological safety, and organizational dynamics influence whether individuals choose to speak up or stay silent. His findings challenge assumptions, uncover hidden barriers, and highlight the transformative impact of supportive leadership. But this conversation goes beyond research. It is about: * The courage it takes to show up authentically at work * The role leaders play in shaping psychologically safe environments * And how vulnerability, when modeled at the top, can unlock trust, performance, and innovation  Why This Episode Matters Mental health in the workplace is no longer a peripheral issue, it is central to leadership, culture, and performance. This episode highlights a critical shift: * From stigma to openness * From policy to practice * From compliance to genuine human connection Dr. Winkel’s research reveals that while fear of disclosurestill exists, many employees who do share their experiences are met with support, understanding, and meaningful accommodations, pointing to a growing opportunity for organizations to do even better. For leaders, practitioners, and DBA scholars, this conversation offers a powerful reminder: Psychological safety is not a moment, it is a culture And leadership is not just about performance, it is about people.   Connect with Us: LinkedIn: DBA Chronicles [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dba-chronicles]Website: www.dbachronicles.org [http://www.dbachronicles.org]   Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, share it with your network and leave a review. Your support helps us continue amplifying the voices shaping the global DBA scholar-practitioner community.

Episode 055: Global Doctoral Leadership: The GEM DBA, Multicultural Networks & The Practitioner-Scholar Journey

What does it take to build a globally recognized DBA programthat stands the test of time? In this truly international episode of DBA Chronicles, we welcome the full leadership team from GEM Alpine Business School, one of Europe’s most established and globally respected DBA programs. With over 35 years of excellence and 700+ graduates worldwide, GEM’s DBA offers a compelling model of what it means to bridge academic rigor and real-world impact. Together, this dynamic panel explores the evolving landscapeof doctoral education and what today’s practitioner-scholars are really seeking. They share insights on what has sustained the program’s relevance, how the global DBA is being reimagined, and what today’s candidates are truly seeking from the doctoral journey. This conversation explores the intersection of academicrigor, executive leadership, and global perspective, offering a thoughtful look at how DBA programs continue to evolve to meet the needs of experienced professionals navigating complex, real-world challenges.   Why This Episode Matters As DBA programs expand globally, questions around relevance, recognition, and impact are more important than ever. This episode highlights how a long-standing European program continues to adapt, balancing rigorous research with real-world applicability, and creating space for leaders to reflect, question, and contribute new knowledge. The discussion also reinforces a central theme of the DBAjourney: that experienced professionals are not stepping away from practice, but rather stepping deeper into it through research. For current and prospective DBA candidates, this episodeoffers valuable perspective on what it means to pursue a doctorate in today’s interconnected, fast-changing world.   Connect with Us LinkedIn: DBA Chronicles [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dba-chronicles] Website: www.dbachronicles.org [http://www.dbachronicles.org]   Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, please leave a reviewand share it with your network. Your support helps us continue highlighting the voices and insights shaping theglobal DBA scholar-practitioner community.

Episode 054: From Practice to Scholarship: Doing Timely, High-Impact Research Through the DBA with Kimberly Bright

Kimberly Bright is a Doctor of Business Administration candidate at the University of Rhode Island and a seasoned leader whose career spans public service, higher education leadership, strategic planning, and organizational change. Her work sits at the intersection of practice, policy, and scholarship, demonstrating the powerful role DBA research can play in addressing real-world challenges as they unfold. Holding a Master of Public Administration from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, Kimberlybrings a deeply practitioner-oriented lens to her doctoral research. Her study examines the lived experiences of Black Chief Diversity Officers in higher education, focusing on how race-based trauma, political pressures, and institutional dynamics influence leaders’ health, well-being, and intentions to remain in their roles. Conducted during a time of heightened scrutiny around higher education and diversity initiatives, Kimberly’s work reflects the core promise of the DBA: enabling experiencedprofessionals to translate lived expertise into rigorous scholarship that informs leadership, policy, and organizational practice in real time. But this episode is about more than a dissertation topic. It is about the journey from practice to scholarship, the intellectual transformation that happens in a DBA program, and theresponsibility of researcher-practitioners to bring credible evidence into complex societal conversations.   Why This Episode Matters Kimberly Bright’s research illustrates how the DBA serves as a bridge between scholarship and practice. Rather than studying events long after they occur, practitioner-scholars can investigate critical issues as they are happening, producing insights that organizations, policymakers, and leaders can use today. Her work also highlights a broader lesson for the DBA community: research is not just about adding to academic literature, it is about bringing evidence, lived experience, andcredible analysis into conversations that shape institutions and society. For DBA students, aspiring practitioner-scholars, and leaders navigating complex organizational environments, this episode demonstrates how timely research can illuminatehidden pressures, elevate overlooked voices, and strengthen decision-making in uncertain times.   Connect with Us LinkedIn: DBA Chronicles [https://www.linkedin.com/company/dba-chronicles] Website: www.dbachronicles.org [http://www.dbachronicles.org]   Subscribe & Review If this episode resonated with you, please leave a reviewand share it with your network. Your support helps us continue highlighting the voices and insights shaping the global DBA scholar-practitioner community.