About Morgan
Morgan McCall is a Professor Emeritus at the USC Marshall School of Business and an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, recognized for his foundational research in executive development and derailment.
Who is Morgan McCall?
Morgan McCall is a Professor Emeritus in the Marshall School of Business at the University of Southern California (USC), specializing in management and organization. As an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute (BPI), his work significantly contributes to understanding how leaders develop and why some careers falter.
His research on executive development and derailment has influenced leadership training and organizational growth strategies globally. McCall is known for his practical insights derived from extensive study of executive careers, offering valuable perspectives to Fortune 500 companies and growing organizations alike.
Quick facts about Morgan McCall
| Role | Professor Emeritus, Faculty Expert |
| Company | University of Southern California (USC), Best Practice Institute (BPI) |
| Expertise | Executive development, executive derailment, experience-based leadership growth, 70-20-10 rule |
| Notable for | Co-editing Using Experience to Develop Leadership Talent, authoring The Lessons of Experience, High Flyers, Developing Global Executives |
| BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |
What is Morgan McCall known for?
- Executive Development and Derailment: McCall's pioneering research explores what factors contribute to executive success and why some high-potential leaders fail in their roles.
- The 70-20-10 Rule: He is significantly associated with the widely cited framework suggesting that 70% of learning comes from challenging job assignments, 20% from developmental relationships, and 10% from formal coursework and training.
- Experience-Based Leadership Growth: His work emphasizes the critical role of on-the-job experiences, challenges, and successes in shaping leadership capabilities.
- Author of Influential Books: He co-edited Using Experience to Develop Leadership Talent and authored seminal works such as The Lessons of Experience, High Flyers, and Developing Global Executives.
- Contributions to Organizational Psychology: A Fellow of the Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology (SIOP), he has received distinguished awards for his professional contributions.
What is Morgan McCall's background and experience?
Morgan McCall holds a B.S. degree with honors from Yale University and a Ph.D. from Cornell University, establishing a strong academic foundation for his research career. Early in his career, he served as the Director of Research and a Senior Behavioral Scientist at the Center for Creative Leadership, a pivotal role that shaped his focus on practical leadership development.
He then joined the USC Marshall School of Business, where he became a Professor of Management and Organization. Throughout his tenure at USC, McCall has taught leadership-related courses in MBA programs and for the Office of Executive Education. His extensive work experience also includes collaborations with major corporations such as 3M, Disney, Eaton, Johnson & Johnson, Microsoft, Nordstrom, Procter & Gamble, Toyota, and Yum! Brands, applying his research findings to real-world talent development challenges.
What topics does Morgan McCall speak and write about?
Morgan McCall's primary focus is on how leaders learn and develop throughout their careers, with particular attention to the experiences that accelerate growth and those that can lead to derailment. He explores the nuances of executive learning, including how individuals gain insights from both successes and failures, navigate critical career transitions, and acquire deep expertise.
His publications and talks delve into the practical application of experience-based learning, offering frameworks and strategies for organizations to foster robust leadership pipelines. He addresses topics such as the design of developmental assignments, the importance of feedback and coaching, and creating organizational cultures that support continuous learning and growth.
How does Morgan McCall contribute to the Best Practice Institute?
As an expert faculty member at the Best Practice Institute, Morgan McCall brings his extensive knowledge of executive development and leadership directly to BPI's community. His insights help BPI members understand the critical elements of experience-based learning and how to apply them within their own organizations. This expertise aligns with BPI's mission to advance best practices in leadership and organizational excellence, contributing to the principles reflected in the Most Loved Workplace® certification and the SPARK Model.
His research bolsters BPI's resources, particularly in areas related to talent strategy, leadership effectiveness, and fostering environments where employees can thrive and grow. By sharing his findings and experience, McCall aids BPI in guiding organizations toward more effective leadership development practices that enhance engagement and overall workplace success.
Where can you learn more from Morgan McCall?
You can learn more from Morgan McCall through his expert profile on the Best Practice Institute website. His foundational research is detailed in his books, including Using Experience to Develop Leadership Talent, The Lessons of Experience, High Flyers, and Developing Global Executives. These resources offer in-depth insights into executive development, derailment, and the strategic use of experience for leadership growth.