From Military to Boardroom: The Evolving Psychology of Leadership with Scott Harris

Unlock the secrets behind landing top leadership roles and discover what really makes great executives stand out. This episode dives deep with Scott Harris on how organizations assess, select, and coach leaders for the biggest jobs, with insights from military command to the boardroom and cutting-edge AI in hiring. If you’ve ever wondered what separates good leaders from the truly great, you won’t want to miss this conversation!

Scott Harris is a Senior Client Principal at Heidrick & Struggles, specializing in leadership assessment for CEOs, C-suite executives, and senior partners. His journey into leadership psychology began at West Point and grew through global military service, commercial real estate, and a decade consulting with Fortune-level companies on selecting and developing top talent. With a master’s in social-organizational psychology and executive coaching certification from Columbia University, Scott blends a data-driven approach with a human perspective to help organizations make better talent decisions and unlock leaders’ full potential.

Below are the key takeaways from this episode:

1. Leadership assessment is evolving: Modern organizations need leaders who are collaborative and adaptable, not just command-and-control.
2. Going beyond resumes matters: Effective assessments use interviews, personality tests, and simulations to understand real potential and authentic behaviors.
3. Culture and role fit are crucial: The best leaders align their strengths with the specific needs and goals of the organization.
4. Self-awareness is a standout trait: Leaders who reflect, learn, and adapt are far more likely to succeed in senior roles.
5. AI is a valuable tool—though not a replacement: Technology can enrich assessments, but human insight and context are still essential at the highest levels.

Todays guest, Scott D. Harris, can be found online at:

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-d-harris/

Your host, Dr. Bobbi Wegner, can be found online at:

Groops: https://www.joingroops.com/

Harvard Extension School Faculty Spotlight: https://youtu.be/zwLai-lu-pk?si=GpKNhtxVvTrS3-pu

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/bobbiwegner/