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Jayhawks in leadership positions are everywhere you look, including through the Jayhawk Career Network. KU Alumni, in partnership with SumnerOne, is highlighting Jayhawk leaders who are models for others in their industries with our “Copy the Leader” program.
What do you do in your work?
I serve as an Administrator of School Operations and Enrichment Programs for St. Anne’s Day School in Atlanta, Georgia. The Day School, now in its 58th year of service to over 150 families this year, serves as a mission of Saint Anne’s Episcopal Church nestled in the intersection of a Church, School, and Senior Living Community. The School strives to cultivate a nurturing, enriching environment for children, families, and educators, promoting a collaborative learning community of creative inquiry and loving relationships. Each child is a unique gift from God, full of infinite potential and loved for who they are and who they will become. At Saint Anne’s Day School, we are inspired by the world-renowned schools of Reggio Emilia, Italy and are accredited by Cognia, whose vision is to impact and inspire education providers to advance and enable pathways of success for all learners. My work has been to support the Identity of the Day School and the evolution of its work during my 18 years of service.
What are the qualities of a good leader?
Simon Banks, Author & Keynote Speaker on Creativity, Innovation & Design | Design Thinking, references this quote from Dr. Stephen Brown on LinkedIn,” You are not a good leader until you have produced another leader who can produce another leader.” He goes on to say, “To be a leader you must be both selfish and generous.”
Selfish? Every leader should aspire to be the best they can be, they should be prepared to invest in their personal growth through continued learning and self-reflection.
Generous? All leaders need to actualize their expertise and leadership capability by developing an organizational culture and a personal commitment to the nurturing of leadership capacity [in ourselves and others… in this case, our children, educators, and families].
In my role, I collate and reinforce the foundational and organizational frameworks to support the daily life of the School.
How do you practice leadership at your job?
Recognizing that leadership is not inherent in the role but resides in your day-to-day presence, intentions, and actions… I see myself as a continuous learner with all of our school protagonists: the child, the educator, and the families while keeping in mind that “A good leader should have integrity, self-awareness, courage, respect, compassion, and resilience. They should be learning agile and flex their influence while communicating the vision, showing gratitude, and collaborating effectively.” – Center for Creative Leadership
What makes a team or group successful?
Staying connected to shared goals, responsibilities, research, and values while respecting a responsible autonomy for the role(s) we play in the wider School community.
How can leaders in your industry help their organizations adapt to change?
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