Grab your earbuds, because the Center for Principled Leadership and Business Strategy at Western Michigan University has launched another method for tuning into the business world while sheltering in place.

“The Jungle,” a podcast that aims to explore the wild and exciting side of the business through thoughtful conversations with executives and other leaders, is now available through a variety of listening platforms. Hosts Dr. Doug Lepisto and Dr. Derrick McIver, faculty members, and co-directors of the center provide an up-close, unvarnished view into the emotions, practices and lived experiences of leading and strategy formation.

With 11 episodes available for streaming by mid-May, the podcast is currently examining how businesses and their leaders are navigating the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic.

“‘Unprecedented’ and ‘unknown’ are two words we often hear during this current crisis,” says Lepisto. “The novelty of this situation raises a fundamental question: How do you create a path forward and lead others down that path? We want to take listeners up close to hear how great leaders attempt to do this.”

Featured guests include John Bryant, former chairman and CEO of the Kellogg Company; Alessandro P. DiNello, B.B.A.’75, president and CEO of Flagstar Bank and Flagstar Bancorp; Dr. Edward Montgomery, WMU president; Patti Poppe, president and CEO of Consumers Energy, and many others.

“We wanted to get a candid look inside leadership and strategy from different vantage points across a broad spectrum of industries,” says McIver. “The current times provide a rare opportunity to delve into how leaders deal with the uncertainties of running organizations. Each episode is intended to be a learning experience for listeners.”

ABOUT THE CENTER FOR PRINCIPLED LEADERSHIP AND BUSINESS STRATEGY

The Center for Principled Leadership and Business Strategy at the WMU Haworth College of Business believes the path to purpose and profit is found in creating genuine value for others. Making this a reality in business requires leadership and strategic thinking to maximize benefits across stakeholders.

The center serves students, executives, and the West Michigan business community by providing deeply immersive opportunities that combine education and professional business experience. Center faculty undertake large-scale consulting projects and executive mentorship for students, design “learning spaces of the future” and support students in acquiring and operating small businesses.