Developing Empathy and Integrity in Leadership | Ed Ollie, Jr.

In this conversation, host John Terrill interviews Ed Ollie, Jr. Ed, a senior leader with appointments in campus ministry, churches, and the marketplace. He discusses the distinction between leadership and management, noting that influential leaders focus on inspiring and accomplishing results, while managers address complexity and follow strategic plans. Ed also reflects on his formative experiences growing up in a close-knit family and a supportive church community. He shares insights on leadership in crisis situations, emphasizing the importance of prioritizing family, maintaining clarity in vision, asking good questions, and seeking restoration and redemption. Ed and John discuss the challenges of transparency and accountability in the church and the importance of addressing failure and its purpose in personal and communal life. They also explore the characteristics of a healthy organizational culture and the need for leaders to lean into the process of diversity and multiculturalism. Ed shares his hope for the next generation of Christian leaders and emphasizes the importance of mentoring and empowering young people.