The Circles of Genius We're Wasting: Why Lived Experience Matters More Than Motivation with Shokry Elady

The Circles of Genius We're Wasting: Why Lived Experience Matters More Than Motivation with Shokry Elady

May 18, 2026 · 54 min · Season 4 · Episode 124

About this episode

Dr. Michael Conner discusses with Dr. Shokry Eldaly the importance of lived experience in organizational efficacy and the limitations of motivation as a barrier to success.

Organizations love to say they’ve “given people the tools to succeed”, so why do the same individuals and teams keep being labeled as the problem? In this episode, host Dr. Michael Conner talks with Dr. Shokry Eldaly (Teachers College, Columbia University) about what’s really missing: structures that make efficacy possible. Shokry breaks down why motivation isn’t the primary barrier, how rigid systems discount lived experience, and what it looks like to build collective impact without blaming individuals. In this conversation: Why “lack of motivation” is often a convenient story How structures shape outcomes more than individual effort Lived experience as essential data for change Hope as a practical strategy for collective impact Subscribe to Voices for Excellence for conversations that challenge how we lead, learn, and grow together.

People in this episode

Host: Dr. Michael Conner

Guest: Dr. Shokry Eldaly

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Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Teachers College, Columbia University

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