The Importance of Core Values with Lt Col Johnson

Jan 14, 2025

Leadership matters—whether in business, government, or personal life, the rise and fall of organizations, communities, and nations depend on it. On this episode of Free Thinking, Montel Williams sits down with retired United States Air Force Lieutenant Colonel Philippe Johnson, a decorated officer and author of the book What Hangs in the Balance. Lt. Col. Johnson’s book offers a comprehensive breakdown of 40 core competencies vital for principled and ethical leadership, using former President Donald Trump’s presidency as a case study. Today, Philippe and Montel have a bold, thought-provoking conversation about what good leadership means, the critical importance of integrity and accountability, and why demanding higher standards from those in power is more urgent than ever.

Key takeaways from this episode include:

The essential traits great leaders must embody, from empathy to humility. How principled leadership can repair trust and build stronger organizations. A candid discussion on leadership failures, their consequences, and lessons for the next generation of leaders. This is an episode you don’t want to miss.

Lt. Col. Philippe Johnson’s book, What Hangs in the Balance, available January 7, 2025!