About
Russell Davis is an author, business executive, and consultant with a focus on leadership development, effective communication, and DEIAB. He has developed tools and leadership models for personal accountability, effective communication, and positive engagement. He is the author of The Leadership Papers: Tools for Effective Leadership and Reclaiming Ethical Leadership. His books create a framework for understanding the responsibilities and challenges of leadership and provide practical information on becoming Benevolent Compassionate Leaders.
What Makes Russell Different?
Real World Experience
Russell’s leadership approach was forged in real-world problem-solving—not just in boardrooms, but in communities. His experience in the Peace Corps, working with women’s development groups in Honduras, shaped his belief that:
Effective leadership begins by listening to the needs of those you serve.
Leadership is about partnership, not power.
- Chief People Officer & Leadership Strategist with 20+ years of experience in nonprofit and for-profit organizations
- Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
- Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®) Certification
- Mental Health First Aid Certification – National Council for Mental Wellbeing
- Author & Speaker on workplace culture, leadership accountability, and team dynamics.
- HR & Leadership Consultant who works to fix broken leadership structures and builds thriving teams.
Core Philosophy
Leadership is not about power—it’s about responsibility.
Leadership has traditionally been defined as the ability, standing, power, or right to lead others. This definition leaves out the moral imperative of caring for those one leads in a positive, inclusive, ethical, benevolent, and compassionate way.
This traditional definition is focused solely on power and not on how leaders engage with others on the journey – this can lead to toxic leadership. True qualities of leadership are not predicated on wealth, class, race, gender, or position. They consist of intrinsic qualities connected to principled behaviors, personal responsibility, positive engagement, caring, and character.
I defined leadership as, “The ability to effectively and responsibly engage with people, processes, and programs, to achieve organizational, team, or individual goals.” Developing or enhancing the skills of effective leadership is a life-long journey and requires a commitment to key values demonstrated through behaviors
Benevolent Compassionate Leadership (BCL)
Benevolent – established, organized, or focused on doing good.
Compassionate – feeling and demonstrating empathy and caring for others.
I believe in Benevolent Compassionate Leadership (BCL).
Individuals learn to become benevolent compassionate leaders by developing, enhancing, and mastering five core skills:
- Understanding self
- Understanding others
- Understanding the objective(s)
- Practice
- Patience
Books
Reclaiming Ethical Leadership was conceived during the COVID-19 pandemic, civil unrest, and toxic national leadership of 2020. It was written for those who felt a fire raging inside that compelled them to march for justice, challenge morally bankrupt politicians, and take on the awesome responsibility of leadership. Reclaiming Ethical Leadership builds on principles from my first book, The Leadership Papers: Tools for Effective Leadership, and details how to combat toxic leadership by embracing the principles of Benevolent Compassionate Leadership.
The Leadership Papers provide insight on what is crucial for effective leadership, namely: ethical decision making, effective communication, trustworthiness, understanding of self, understanding of others, understanding of the objective(s), practice, and patience. Included in the text are tools for skills development, definitions, conversations with leaders, and strategies to enhance leadership skills. Whether you are just starting your leadership journey, or are a seasoned veteran, The Leadership Papers is designed to provide context for your continued growth and development.
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