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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