Episode 65: Dangerous Leaders w/ Professor Anthony C. Thompson

Lawyers play a central role in our democracy. For instance, more than a third of the current members of the US House of Representative, more than half of current US Senators, and more than half of US presidents are lawyers. Moreover, in recent years lawyers have taken center stage in public debates and discourse on issues ranging from immigration to police brutality to international trade. Today, we interview Professor Anthony Thompson, author of Dangerous Leaders: How and Why Lawyers Must be Taught to Lead, on what it means for lawyers to be leaders in the 21st century. Specifically, we discuss his inspiration for the book (28:12), different types of leadership (32:06), and his concept of intersectional leadership (34:18). In addition to having a conversation about the characteristics of strong leaders, we discuss the role of diversity in effective leadership (38:30), healthy operating environments for leaders (43:10), the tension between personal ambition and the greater good (45:35), and why it’s important for leaders to display emotional intelligence (49:00).

Other Topics Include:

00:30 - Catch Up with Ty and Daphne

04:20 - BhD “Oh Lawd” News

23:52 - Introduction of the Topic

27:20 - Learn More about Professor Anthony Thompson

53:00 - Ty and Daphne Discuss the Potential for Intersectional Leadership in Academia

58:45 - Ty and Daphne Reflect on the Interview

Resources:

• Professor Thompson’s Website http://its.law.nyu.edu/facultyprofiles/index.cfm?fuseaction=profile.overview&personid=20330

• NYU Center on Race, Inequality, and the Law - http://www.law.nyu.edu/centers/race-inequality-law

• BOOKS

• Dangerous Leaders: How and Why Lawyers Must be Taught to Lead - https://www.sup.org/books/title/?id=26895

• A Perilous Path: Talking Race, Inequality and the Law - https://thenewpress.com/books/perilous-path

• Releasing Prisoners, Redeeming Communities: Reentry, Race, and Politics - https://nyupress.org/books/9780814783214/