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Scott Metzler, Ph.D. is a 2026 graduate of the PhD Program in Leadership and Change at Antioch University.

Scott Metzler at his Dissertation Defense.

From L-R: Dr. Angela Workman-Stark, Committee Member, Dr. Beth Mabry, Committee Chair Dr. Fayth Parks, Committee Member.

Dissertation Committee

  • Beth Mabry, PhD, Committee Chair
  • Fayth Parks, PhD, Committee Member
  • Angela Workman-Stark, PhD, Committee Member

Keywords

masculinity contest culture, fire service, law enforcement, communal leadership, organizational culture, gender and leadership, hermeneutic phenomenology, leadership

Document Type

Dissertation

Publication Date

2026

Abstract

This phenomenological study explores the lived experiences of formal and informal leaders who exercise communal leadership, characterized by collaboration, inclusion, and relational focus, within the masculinity contest cultures of law enforcement and the fire service, where strength, competition, and hierarchical leadership often rule the day. Through in-depth qualitative interviews with 19 participants across the United States, this research investigates how and why leaders choose to challenge organizational norms, how they perceive the effects of their decisions on themselves and others, and how they navigate the tensions and contradictions between communal leadership and hypermasculine cultural expectations. The findings reveal that leaders employ communal approaches as a way of living out their personal values, either as a lifelong practice, or after an inflection point causes them to reject hypermasculine ideals and embrace a more nurturing approach. Communal leadership manifests as shepherding behaviors, like investing in relationships, demonstrating vulnerability, creating psychological safety, and protecting others from organizational toxicity. Leaders who exercise this kind of leadership in masculinity contest cultures often face severe costs, such as social isolation, professional marginalization, and intimidation as their practice of leadership is perceived to violate deeply entrenched workplace values and power dynamics. This study contributes to the understanding of communal leadership as organizational resistance in hypermasculine workplaces and offers practical implications, such as redefining strong leadership to include emotional awareness, courageous vulnerability, and authentic conversations; implicating senior leadership in coaching, mentoring, and modeling communal practices, and constructing systems of support for individual leaders who challenge hypermasculine values by exercising human-centered leadership. This dissertation is available in open access at AURA (https://aura.antioch.edu/) and OhioLINK ETD Center (https://etd.ohiolink.edu/).

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Scott Metzler

ORCID No: #0009-0004-4263-5888

Dr. Scott Metzler is a leadership coach, consultant, and facilitator with extensive experience guiding people, organizations, and communities through high-stakes transformation. His 30-year career in the American fire service provides a foundation for understanding how change unfolds in complex, high-risk environments, and how leaders can navigate it with intention and integrity.

Central to Scott’s practice is helping organizations create cultural change within hypermasculine environments, where traditional norms can create barriers to authenticity, adaptation, and person-centered leadership. His doctoral research extends his commitment to understanding how organizations transform from within, contributing new knowledge to the study of leadership and culture change in demanding professional contexts. A popular keynote speaker, Dr. Metzler’s insights into leadership and cultural transformation have resonated with audiences across the United States and abroad.

Scott earned a PhD in Leadership and Change from Antioch University. He also holds a master’s degree in public administration from Anna Maria College, a master’s degree in liberal arts from Baker University, and a BA in English literature and languages from Wichita State University.

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