The Leadership Telos: Pursuing purpose through virtue, faith, and formation

In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we walk through one of the most essential practices in virtuous leadership: the Personal Virtue Audit. This reflective process helps you examine who you are becoming, how you are leading, and where your growth edges lie across the four core domains of the Virtuous Cycle.

Drawing from the original 19 virtues in the Virtuous Leadership Model, we explore how each virtue functions as a diagnostic...

What if leadership development isn’t linear, but cyclical? In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore the Virtuous Cycle, a transformative model for becoming the kind of leader who grows on purpose rather than by accident.

Drawing from Aristotle, theology, and modern psychology, we examine how character is formed through a repeating cycle of seeing rightly, choosing wisely, acting consistently, and becoming continually. Thi...

In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore Transcendence: the virtue that lifts leaders beyond urgency, ego, and immediate pressures and anchors them in a higher purpose. When leaders cultivate transcendence, they gain clarity, resilience, moral courage, and the ability to guide others through uncertainty with steadiness and hope.

Together, we explore transcendence from psychological, philosophical, and theological perspect...

In today’s episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore the virtue of Humanity, a leadership practice rooted in compassion, connection, and elevating the collective good.

Modern research shows a powerful trend: employees, customers, and investors are increasingly choosing organizations that operate with integrity and care for people, communities, and the planet. Humane leadership isn’t soft—it’s strategic, sustainable, and transforma...

In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore temperance, the virtue of self-control that guards against excess, indulgence, and emotional impulsivity. Discover how temperate leaders embody balance, humility, and patience by moderating their desires, emotions, and use of resources.

Drawing from Aristotle’s Golden Mean, Aquinas’s theological wisdom, and modern psychology, Dr. M unpacks how self-regulation strengthens moral lead...

Justice is more than a moral principle; it’s a way of leading that safeguards dignity, restores balance, and cultivates trust. In this episode of The Leadership Telos, Dr. M explores how justice functions as a cornerstone of virtuous leadership by ordering reason toward the common good and aligning action with fairness and compassion.

From psychological insights on equity and accountability to philosophical reasoning on the summum b...

In this episode of The Leadership Telos, Dr. M explores the virtue of Prudence, the guiding light of wise decision-making. Prudence is more than cautiousness; it’s the art of balancing courage and caution, wisdom and will, faith and reason. As Aristotle and Aquinas both remind us, prudence is the virtue that directs all others as the mother of moral action and the compass that keeps leaders aligned with truth and goodness.

Drawing f...

What does it mean to lead with hope when outcomes are uncertain, teams are weary, and the future feels clouded? In this episode of The Leadership Telos, Dr. M explores Hope as more than optimism or positivity; it’s a theological and psychological virtue that anchors leaders in transcendent purpose.

Drawing on insights from philosophy, faith, and virtue ethics, we’ll unpack how hope functions as the forward-looking strength that sust...

What happens when an organization is led by virtue instead of vanity? In this episode of The Leadership Telos, Dr. Maegan Winegar explores how leaders can intentionally build a culture grounded in moral character — where people thrive, teams trust, and performance follows purpose.

We’ll draw lessons from companies like Southwest Airlines and Chick-fil-A, whose leaders embedded humility, gratitude, and service into their organization...

In this episode of The Leadership Telos Podcast, we explore Phronesis, aka practical wisdom, the crown jewel of leadership and good character.

More than just knowledge, phronesis is the ability to discern what is truly good in complex situations and act on it. Aristotle saw phronesis as the virtue that guides all other virtues, while modern psychology frames it as the integration of knowledge, ethics, and action. For leaders today, ...

What does it mean to be a lifelong learner, and why does it matter for leaders? In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore how the love of learning shapes leaders into wiser, more resilient, and more fruitful people. Drawing on psychology, philosophy, and scripture, we’ll see how curiosity, humility, and continuous growth are at the heart of virtuous leadership.

Whether you’re leading yourself, your family, or an organizati...

In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore the virtue of grace—not as a soft sentiment, but as a powerful leadership practice. Drawing on psychology, philosophy, and theology, we’ll look at how grace allows leaders to acknowledge their own imperfections, extend forgiveness, and create cultures of safety and trust.

We also unpack Colossians 4:6, which calls us to let our conversations be “full of grace, seasoned with salt.” ...

Love is often misunderstood in leadership—seen as soft, sentimental, or secondary to strategy. But true love in leadership is foundational, shaping cultures of trust, resilience, and eudaimonia. In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore love as more than emotion: love as action, commitment, and virtue. Drawing on psychology, philosophy, and theology, we’ll uncover how agape love forms the root of all virtues, from courage...

Faithfulness is more than consistency—it is leadership anchored in transcendence. From psychology and philosophy to theology and organizational research, this episode explores how faithfulness shapes meaning, relationships, and purpose. Aristotle wrestled with the eternal mover, Aquinas called faith a divine light, and today’s faith-led organizations describe themselves as families of God, balancing purpose and profit. Discover how...

Forgiveness is often misunderstood as weakness—but in leadership, it is a profound strength. In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore forgiveness through psychology, philosophy, and theology. We’ll unpack the research on how forgiving leaders foster innovation and trust, Aristotle’s warning about deficient or excessive anger, and Scripture’s call to radical forgiveness modeled by Christ.

Leaders are not only called to for...

In a world that prizes speed, patience often gets overlooked. Yet in leadership, patience can be the catalyst for growth, resilience, and purpose-driven success. In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore patience through three lenses:

• Psychological: How patience sustains goals, fosters mentorship, and meets generational expectations.
• Philosophical: Patience as endurance and forbearance in pursuit of a higher telos.
• Theol...

Every family has a purpose—a telos. But in today’s busy, distraction-filled world, it’s easy for that purpose to get buried under schedules, stress, and surface-level conversations. In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore how understanding and living out your family’s telos can transform relationships, strengthen bonds, and shape the character of everyone in your home.

Drawing on previous conversations about Magnanimity,...

In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore the virtue of truthfulness—a foundational yet often overlooked quality in virtuous leadership. Drawing from Aristotle’s Nicomachean Ethics, contemporary leadership research, and rich theological insights, we’ll examine how honesty impacts trust, engagement, and even economic sustainability in organizations.

From the philosophical tension between boasting and mock modesty to the psy...

What if the secret to unlocking engagement, innovation, and meaningful leadership starts with a simple “thank you”?

In this episode of The Leadership Telos, we explore Gratitude—not just as a feeling, but as a leadership virtue that shapes culture, empowers teams, and transforms hearts. Grounded in psychological research, ancient philosophy, and Christian theology, we uncover how grateful leaders foster humility, team voice, innovat...