What does it mean to be a flourishing leader in a time of moral complexity, institutional pressure, and rapid technological change?
In this milestone 50th episode of The Flourishing Leaders Podcast, Dr. Scott Parsons welcomes Professor Tom Harrison for a rich and deeply personal conversation on character education, leadership, practical wisdom, and human flourishing.
Tom Harrison is Professor of Education at the University of Birmingham, Director of the Jubilee Centre for Character and Virtues, and Deputy Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Education and Learning Innovation. He has been part of the Jubilee Centre since its founding in 2012 and is one of the most respected voices internationally in the fields of character education, cyber-wisdom, and virtues-based leadership.
In this episode, Scott and Tom explore:
- What the phrase flourishing leader really means
- Why flourishing must include both the individual and the common good
- How the Jubilee Centre’s framework for character education became so globally influential
- What Tom has learned from leading an academic centre with a moral mission
- How he is helping embed character and practical wisdom into university education at scale
- Why the MA in Character Education has had such wide-reaching impact
- The vision behind the newly launched Global Character Alliance
- Why cyber-phronesis matters more than ever in the digital age
- How character can guide children, parents, educators, and leaders in a world shaped by technology and AI
This episode is also a special one personally: Scott and Tom reflect on the unusual fact that this is the third podcast episode they have shared together across three different podcast series over the years.
If you care about character education, virtue ethics, higher education, leadership development, cyber-wisdom, or the future of human flourishing, this conversation is for you.
Professor Tom Harrison’s most recent book, THRIVE: How to Cultivate Character So Your Children Can Flourish Online, won the IFFD International Family Award and remains an important guide for anyone seeking to raise wise and virtuous young people in a digital world.
Listen now and join us for a conversation about why character still matters, why it always will, and how it can help leaders and institutions flourish.
Thank you for listening to the Flourishing Leaders Podcast!
Hosted by Dr. Scott Parsons, this podcast explores how character, virtue, wisdom, and purpose can shape a more flourishing life and leadership journey.
Learn more at: Flourishing Leaders Academy
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Flourish with us—because leadership rooted in character changes everything.
