Leadership in Conflict: Insights from Northern Ireland with Dr. Joanne Murphy

Send us a text Dr. Joanne Murphy is Chair of Inclusive Leadership at Birmingham Business School, University of Birmingham. Her research explores leadership, change and organisational development in political volatility, including environments affected by ethno-political conflict. Her latest book is Management and War: How Organisations Navigate Conflict and Build Peace. A Few Quotes From This Episode“I grew up in Northern Ireland and was part of this ‘troubles generation.’ That has defined, to a very large extent, the work that I do, because conflict and violence became a big part of my reality.”“What I’m really interested in—and I suppose the connective tissue through my work—is leadership. How do we get people to understand conflict and then lead them out of it?”“When we talk about things like war or these intractable, wicked problems, they seem to be more prevalent rather than less. And that’s why understanding conflict—and how leaders can help resolve it—matters so much.” A Quote From Hume"s Nobel Speech"All conflict is about difference, whether the difference is race, religion or nationality...Difference is of the essence of humanity. Difference is an accident of birth and it should therefore never be the source of hatred or conflict. The answer to difference is to respect it. Therein lies a most fundamental principle of peace – respect for diversity." Resources Mentioned in This Episode Article: Leadership, liminality, and ‘wicked’ conflicts: John Hume and the untangling of the Northern Ireland ‘Troubles’ by MurphyBook: Say Nothing: A True Story of Murder and Memory in Northern Ireland by Patrick Radden KeefeBook: John Hume: A Biography by Paul RoutledgeDocumentary: John Hume - Ireland"s GreatestBook: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood About The International Leadership Association (ILA)The ILA was created in 1999 to bring together professionals interested in studying, practicing, and teaching leadership. Plan for Prague - October 15-18, 2025! About  Scott J. AllenWebsiteWeekly Newsletter: Practical Wisdom for LeadersBlog My Approach to HostingThe views of my guests do not constitute "truth." Nor do they reflect my personal views in some instances. However, they are views to consider, and I hope they help you clarify your perspective. Nothing can replace your reflection, rese ♻️ Please share with others and follow/subscribe to the podcast! ⭐️ Please leave a review on Apple, Spotify, or your platform of choice. ➡️ Follow me on LinkedIn for more on leadership, communication, and tech. 📜 Subscribe to my weekly newsletter featuring four hand-picked articles. 🌎 You can learn more about my work on my Website.