Special 2: The Imperfect CEO - Scott Green | Faithly Podcast
In this episode of The Imperfect CEO series on the Faithly Podcast, Rev. Adam Durso and Jim Brown are joined by Scott Green, President of the University of Idaho, for a practical and insightful conversation on leadership, organizational health, and navigating institutional turnaround.
Drawing from his background as a CFO and COO in the private sector, Scott shares how he applied the principles from The Imperfect CEO to lead a remarkable transformation—guiding a university facing significant financial deficits and low morale toward a culture marked by collaboration and shared ownership. At the center of the conversation is a foundational leadership principle: the courage to name reality.
Together, Rev. Adam, Jim, and Scott explore the tension between urgency and sustainability in leadership, highlighting why long-term success is built through alignment, not control. From breaking down silos to fostering collaboration across teams, this episode offers a compelling blueprint for leaders seeking to create momentum without becoming the bottleneck.
Website: https://www.uidaho.edu/leadership/president
Connect with Jim Brown, and DM the word “BUILD" at linkedin.com/in/authorjimbrown for a free resource, and preorder your copy of The Imperfect CEO now at http://imperfectceobook.com/
(00:00) Opening Thoughts on Leadership and Risk
(01:00) Introducing Scott Green and His Leadership Background
(04:00) Collaboration vs Competition in Leadership
(07:20) Real-World Leadership vs Theory
(11:30) Early Wins and Setting Clear Goals
(15:00) Empowering Leaders to Own Solutions
(21:00) Reinforcing Collaboration Through Systems
(25:30) Leadership Without the “Hero” Mentality
(30:00) Empowering Leaders as CEOs of Their Areas
(34:00) Fundraising, Storytelling, and Institutional Growth
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00:00 - Opening Thoughts on Leadership and Risk
01:00:00 - Introducing Scott Green and His Leadership Background
04:00:00 - Collaboration vs Competition in Leadership
07:20:00 - Real-World Leadership vs Theory
11:30:00 - Early Wins and Setting Clear Goals
15:00:00 - Empowering Leaders to Own Solutions
21:00:00 - Reinforcing Collaboration Through Systems
25:30:00 - Leadership Without the “Hero” Mentality
30:00:00 - Empowering Leaders as CEOs of Their Areas
34:00:00 - Fundraising, Storytelling, and Institutional Growth