What Defines a Great Leader Today? Global Insights from Allison Howell (CEO, Hogan Assessments

About this episode

Allison Howell discusses the findings of Hogan Assessments' Leadership Divide Global Report and the traits that define effective leadership today.

How do you bridge the divide between how leaders show up and what teams truly want? On this week’s episode of the Do Good to Lead Well podcast, I sit down with Allison Howell, CEO of Hogan Assessments, to discuss their Leadership Divide Global Report, which draws on the responses from 9,794 employees across 25 countries. The findings challenge the conventional myths about what makes a great leader, and why charisma and ambition are not enough. Allison Howell pulls back the curtain on “emergent” versus “effective” leadership, sharing why the traits that get people promoted often undermine team success. We also dive into one of the other key findings; why the attributes executives display don’t match what employees crave, with nearly zero overlap. Critical leadership qualities such as cultivating trust, integrity, and humility, build both teams and organizations up, no matter the cultural context. She also shares concrete examples of the most common derailers in Hogan’s research: behaviors that fast-track promotions but quietly undermine trust and morale. Allison also offers a candid look at strategic self-awareness, the value of global perspective, and practical ways any…

People in this episode

Host: Craig Dowden

Guest: Allison Howell

Topics covered

• leadership
• employee insights
• organizational culture
• trust
• effective leadership

Keywords

• leadership
• Hogan Assessments
• employee feedback
• trust
• organizational success
• leadership qualities
• global perspective

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Hogan Assessments

More episodes of Do Good To Lead Well with Craig Dowden

• Why Empathy and Honest Communication Matter More Than Ever for AI-Driven Organizations with Joshua Gould · June 4, 2026 · 54 min
• Incorruptible Leadership Lessons from Eric Ries: Why Good Companies Go Bad and How Great Companies Stay Great · May 28, 2026 · 52 min
• The Power of ATP (Authenticity, Transparency, Positivity) – A Conversation with an Award-Winning CEO of an $800 Million Business · May 21, 2026 · 21 min
• How Do I Make the Best Decisions When the Pressure Is On? Lessons From a 30-Year Senior Military Leader · May 7, 2026 · 50 min
• Why (Senior) Leaders Struggle to Get Feedback and How to Change That · April 30, 2026 · 23 min
• Embracing Authenticity at Work with Chief Heart Officer and Bestselling Author, Claude Silver · April 23, 2026 · 58 min