A peer-to-peer discussion with the President of Morehouse College and Dean Emeritus of Georgetown’s McDonough School of Business.

🎙️ In Episode 85 Thomas shares his candid perspectives on strategic vision and academic leadership. Join Panelists Jim panelists Jim Ellis and David Ikenberry as they lead a deeply insightful dialogue that provides a revealing look at the challenges of leading premier institutions and the importance of establishing a distinct, aspirational identity.

“A lot of students would basically ask me, ‘How are you gonna make us Wharton or Harvard?’ And I would tell them, ‘I'm not. If I wanted to do that, I would have stayed at those places.’” — David Thomas

Beyond the mechanics of strategic planning, Thomas shares how leadership can move past simply "fixing what is broken" to creating a true culture of excellence. He shares behind the scenes conversations about the rigorous redesign of the MBA curriculum including the direct criticisms and frank faculty feedback that ultimately shaped a successful outcome. 

Finally, Thomas discusses the global impact of Morehouse’s 2019 debt-relief milestone—a moment that redefined the college's narrative on a world stage.

“It was a shot heard around the world…It was on CNN and Europe and all over the country. And if you didn't know, if you didn't know Morehouse before that day, you definitely knew it.” — David Thomas

This episode is an essential resource for academic leaders looking to move beyond traditional management toward principle-centered, transformational vision and leadership.

Listen to the full conversation here:

Photos courtesy of David Thomas/Moorehouse

Learn more about David Thomas here.