What does it take to lead with principle in a system defined by pressure, trade-offs, and competing interests?

In this HOW Conversation, HOW founder Dov Seidman sits down with David Gelles, best-selling author and climate reporter for The New York Times, to explore the central paradox of modern capitalism: how businesses can be both profitable and purposeful—without ever fully resolving the tension between the two.

Drawing from Gelles’ latest book The Dirtbag Billionaire, the conversation examines the story of Yvon Chouinard, founder of Patagonia—a company built on contradictions: an anti-capitalist running a successful apparel brand striving to protect the very environment it impacts.

Together, they unpack the idea of “compound interest of values”, how leaders can center humanity, the urgent leadership questions emerging in the age of AI disruption, and much more.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority. We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before. Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/

What does moral leadership look like in practice—across politics, diplomacy, business, and times of crisis?

In this episode of HOW Conversations, Dana Born sits down with Ambassador Jon Huntsman to explore the deeper “how” of leadership: trust, humility, service, and clarity in chaos.

Drawing from his experience as Governor of Utah, U.S. Ambassador to Singapore, China, and Russia, and now Vice Chair and President of Strategic Growth at Mastercard, Huntsman reflects on:

Why trust is the foundation of leadership—and what it really means to earn it

The difference between transactional power and long-term stewardship

How service builds humility and shapes character

Leading through crisis by bringing clarity to chaos

Why hope still thrives—in communities, cultures, and the next generation

From lessons learned in diplomacy and corporate leadership to deeply personal reflections on legacy, obituaries, and what truly matters, this conversation is a powerful reminder that how we lead matters as much as what we achieve.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority. We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.

Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/

In this HOW Conversation, Dov Seidman sits down with Devika Bulchandani—COO of WPP, former CEO of Ogilvy, award-winning industry leader, and HOW Institute board member—for a candid and deeply human exploration of leadership in a world defined by speed, AI, and profound tension.

Devika reflects on the values forged early in her life, her belief that humanity will always win, and the subtle but powerful shift from leading people to having people choose to follow you. She opens up about:

-Building trust by giving it first
-Why real leadership happens in micro-moments
-Navigating the conflict between efficiency and effectiveness
-The role of truth in creating movements that lead to lasting change
-How hope is not only a strategy but an imperative

This conversation is a masterclass in moral leadership, vulnerability, and what it looks like to stay human while leading at the highest levels.

READY TO START YOUR MORAL LEADERSHIP JOURNEY? Moral leadership is more imperative today than ever before. The HOW Institute for Society was founded on the belief that those in positions of formal authority should also have moral authority. We are creating the tools leaders need to make principled, ethical and values-based decisions. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to building a world rooted in deep human values and trust in our social fabric. The Institute channels philosophical reasoning to address modern problems. Today, HOW we do what we do matters more than ever and in ways it never has before.

Learn more at https://thehowinstitute.org/