What does it take to be a leader in the 21st century?
In this Leadership Lecture, Dan Fisher and Steve Garcia describe what it is to rethink the essence of leadership during times of flux and change; how to deal with unpredictable situations by addressing the massive blind spots generated by the traditional approach to leadership; and how to unleash the creativity and full potential of employees by giving up on the idea of control as a positive characteristic of leadership.
Meet Dr. Catherine Deen, a Senior Lecturer in HR and Organisational Behaviour at the School of Business, University of New South Wales Canberra, Australia, whose work helping clarify and demystify micromanagement in leadership, earned the 2023 Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Outstanding Dissertation Award presented by the Center for Leadership at FIU.
Influence, Inspiration and Hiring Rockstars: The Keys to Entrepreneurial Leadership
Meet Jeff Hoffman. Hoffman has launched eight successful technology companies, including three billion-dollar firms and shares insights into what he thinks grows companies into a successful and profitable business.
"Leadership is Love": How a Navy Admiral Made a Difference One Person at a Time
Meet Admiral Craig Faller (ret.) who will share how he learned everyone has the capacity to be a leader, by loving what they do and building that love through a currency of trust.
Meet Dr. Michelle K. Lee, an assistant professor of strategy and organizations at the Smith School of Business, Queen’s University, Kingston, Ontario, Canada, whose work on socioeconomic class and leadership earned the 2022 Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Outstanding Dissertation Award presented by the Center for Leadership at FIU.
Jono De Leon with Guitars Over Guns Named Winner of The 2021 Emerging Leader Award
The Center for Leadership at Florida International University is proud to announce Jono De Leon, Chief Operating Officer of Guitars Over Guns, as the recipient of The 2021 Emerging Leader Award.
Nature and Nurture: When Leaders Meet the Opportunity to Succeed
The Center for Leadership at Florida International University sat down with Francis A. Hondal, President of Loyalty and Engagement at Mastercard where she leads the development of products that enable exceptional consumer experiences through loyalty, rewards, and performance-based marketing services for enterprises worldwide.
The Praise and Perils of Leadership In Challenging Times
In the best and worst of times, leaders bear the praise - and perils - of events that befall organizations and themselves. Two papers discussing how leadership responds in times of crisis shared honors for the 2021 Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Outstanding Dissertation Award presented by the Center for Leadership at FIU.
Blending Power & Warmth for Impactful Leadership
Meet Dr. Suzanne Peterson. Her recent article in Harvard Business Review explores how leaders can more effectively blend and balance leadership markers of power and attractiveness to the benefit of their careers and team mission.
Brave Leaders Choose Courage to Excel at Work
The Center for Leadership at Florida International University sat down with professor and author, Dr. Jim Detert, on how you can be courageous in the workplace.
Dibia DREAM Founder Brandon Okpalobi Named Winner of The 2020 Emerging Leader Award
The Center for Leadership at Florida International University is proud to announce Brandon Okpalobi, founder, president and CEO of DIBIA Athletic Development and Dibia DREAM, as the recipient of The 2020 Emerging Leader Award.
From Clerk to Chairman: Sara Mathew Dares to Lead
What does resilience, determination, and learning to lead strategically look like for a young immigrant woman from India? Arriving in the US, Sara Mathew took the job of a clerk at Procter & Gamble - something her peers called a bad decision – and eventually became the CEO and Chairman of one of the oldest and most successful companies in North America.
Our dissertation award winner convincingly demonstrates that agency has many different facets and that whether agentic women are penalized or rewarded depends on the type of agency.
Strategizing & Focusing Your Leadership Development
How can you set a plan to improve the way you lead? Or, how can an organization make sure its employees are equipped to be the best leaders? The newly released Leadership Competency Builder© tool from the Center for Leadership at Florida International University is set to build the foundation for better leadership.
From Battlefield to Boardroom: Leadership Lessons from an Army General
We recently had a chance to chat with Major General Patricia Anslow, Chief of Staff at the U.S. Southern Command. In her role at U.S. Southern Command, General Anslow also serves as an ex oficio member of the Center for Leadership at FIU’s Board of Advisors.
M-DCPS + Center for Leadership at FIU = SUCCESS: Featuring Stephanie M. Tudor
Stephanie M. Tudor, principal at Lawton Chiles Middle School and Cohort X alumna of the Principal Leadership Development Program (2019-2020), was our tenth interviewee to share her thoughts on leadership, the program, and her experience as a principal.
M-DCPS + Center for Leadership at FIU = SUCCESS: Featuring Lena Orth-Sanchez
Marie “Lena” Orth-Sanchez, principal at Dr. Carlos J. Finlay Elementary School and Cohort IX alumna of the Principal Leadership Development Program (2018-2019), was our ninth interviewee to share her thoughts on leadership, the program, and her experience as a principal.
M-DCPS + Center for Leadership at FIU = SUCCESS: Featuring Humberto J. Miret
Humberto J. Miret, principal at Miami Southridge Senior Highschool and Cohort Vlll alumnus of the Principal Leadership Development Program (2017-2018), was our eighth interviewee to share his thoughts on leadership, the program, and his experience as a principal.
M-DCPS + Center for Leadership at FIU = SUCCESS: Featuring Kenneth Williams
Kenneth Williams, principal at Robert Morgan Educational Center and Cohort Vll alumnus of the Principal Leadership Development Program (2016-2017), was our seventh interviewee to share his thoughts on leadership, the program, and his experience as a principal.
Reinventing Yourself to Find the Perfect You
In this recent interview with the Center for Leadership, our upcoming Leadership Lecture speaker Mariana Atencio discusses her journey from journalist to starting an exciting chapter in her career.
Empowering Innovation from Within
How can leaders create the conditions that empower their employees to take charge of internal innovation? In this recent interview with the Center for Leadership, Kaihan Krippendorff discusses how fostering a culture of innovation can help an organization outperform the competition. “It starts with inspiring the entrepreneur within.”
M-DCPS + Center for Leadership at FIU = SUCCESS: Featuring Randy A. Milliken
Randy A. Milliken, principal at North Miami Beach Senior High and Cohort VI alumnus of the Principal Leadership Development Program (2015-2016), was our sixth interviewee to share his thoughts on leadership, the program, and his experience as a principal.
2019: Another Year of Better Leaders
The Center for Leadership at Florida International University wrapped up 2019 by continuing a remarkable run in leadership research, award-winning leadership development programs, and engaging events with speakers from various industries.
The Center Wins Chief Learning Officer Award
The Center for Leadership at Florida International University has again been recognized for their outstanding leadership development programs, this time receiving the Silver Award from the Chief Learning Officer Group for their work with the Daikin companies in North America, part of Daikin Industries, Ltd., the world’s number one air conditioning company.
M-DCPS + Center for Leadership at FIU = SUCCESS: Featuring April Thompson-Williams
April Thompson-Williams, principal at Jose de Diego Middle School and Cohort V alumna of the Principal Leadership Development Program (2014-2015), was our fifth interviewee to share her thoughts on leadership, the program, and her experience as a principal.
M-DCPS + Center for Leadership at FIU = SUCCESS: Featuring Nery Fins
Nery Fins, principal at Felix Varela Senior High School and Cohort IV alumna of the Principal Leadership Development Program (2013-2014), was our fourth interviewee to share her thoughts on leadership, the program, and her experience as a principal.
DNA of a Leader: CareCloud’s CEO talks leadership
CareCloud’s CEO, Ken Comée, reveals what almost three decades as a technology executive taught him about leading cross-generational teams, “partnering” with stakeholders, and the importance of always asking, “Why?”.
M-DCPS + Center for Leadership at FIU = SUCCESS: Featuring Martin Reid
Martin Reid, principal, Arthur & Polly Mays 6-12 Conservatory of the Arts and Cohort III alumnus of the Principal Leadership Development Program (2012-2013), shares his thoughts on leadership, the program, and his experience as a principal.
M-DCPS + Center for Leadership at FIU = SUCCESS: Featuring Raul Calzadilla, Jr.
This year, the Center for Leadership and Miami-Dade County Public Schools celebrate their 10-year partnership in the award-winning Principals Leadership Development Program (PLDP). As part of this celebration, the Center for Leadership will be featuring one principal from each of the ten cohorts over the coming academic year. Raul Calzadilla, Jr., principal, Air Base K-8 Center for International Education and Cohort II alumnus of the Principal Leadership Development Program (2011-2012), was our second interviewee to share his thoughts on leadership, the program, and his experience as a principal.
Meena Jagannath has combined her skills as a social justice lawyer, an international human rights advocate, and a community activist in South Florida with her belief in the power of cultural engagement to help thousands of people across Miami and the world. Read how this Emerging Leader is changing our community.
Building On Success: Third Generation Developer Creates Own Leadership Style
Building On Success! Read how the past and a shared vision of the future is helping build Austin Hollo’s role as the third-generation developer at Florida East Coast Realty.
M-DCPS + Center for Leadership at FIU = SUCCESS: Featuring Lisa Noffo
This summer, the Center for Leadership and Miami-Dade County Public Schools celebrate their 10-year partnership in the award-winning Principals Leadership Development Program (PLDP), made possible through the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. To date, PLDP has worked with 290 district principals designed to enhance professional development and leadership skills.
"Global Leader or Cultural Outsider?" Wins 2019 Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Outstanding Dissertation Award
Dr. Jackson Lu, researcher who worked on "Global Leader, Cultural Outsider: Examination of international experience and leadership" wins the Center for Leadership at Florida International University's 2019 Alvah H. Chapman Jr. Outstanding Dissertation Award.
10 Years of Educating Educators
This summer, the Center for Leadership and Miami-Dade County Public Schools celebrate their 10-year partnership in the award-winning Principals Leadership Development Program (PLDP), made possible through the generous support of the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation. To date, PLDP has worked with 290 district principals designed to enhance professional development and leadership skills.
Crunching the numbers: From CPA to CEO
Antonio “Tony” Argiz is the quintessential American immigrant success story. Born in Havana and in 1962 was sent to the U.S. without his parents at 9 years old; it would be five years before he would see them again. Growing up in Florida, Argiz’ skill on the baseball diamond earned him an athletic scholarship to Florida International University. Realizing his future was more than baseball, Argiz took the opportunity, earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and became a CPA.
Michelle Abbs is an academic advocate, an entrepreneurial leader, and a staunch proponent of women-run startups. Miami native Matthew Anderson is a community activist who has raised hundreds of thousands of dollars and helped guide organizations serving under-privileged children across the region. Vance Aloupis parlayed his mission as CEO of The Children’s Movement of Florida into a successful 2018 run for the Florida Legislature, where his mission is the welfare of children statewide. All three share two common attributes.
Shattering the Glass Ceiling: Women leaders take charge
Take charge of your own development and find out why The Women Leaders Program is a key component for your career success.
How transferable are your leadership skills?
How transferable are your leadership skills? During his military career, Col. Charles P. “Chuck” Samaris led or trained teams from 200 to 1,600. He served in operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm, oversaw a multi-billion-dollar reconstruction program in Iraq, and was company commander for U.S. troops during massive war games in South Korea.
What Would You Do? Leadership Lessons with Desmond Howard
Desmond Howard arrived at the University of Michigan as a highly-recruited running back. His first week there, famed Coach Bo Schembechler pulled Howard aside and said the team needed him at wide receiver. Did the star player balk or threaten to transfer?
Building On Success! Read how the past and a shared vision of the future is helping build Austin Hollo’s role as the third-generation developer at Florida East Coast Realty.
Can being too kind backfire? Ethics, Trust and Kindness in Leadership
Can ethical leaders get ahead? Do they get results? Whether in business or government, should you really trust someone who says, “Just trust me”? When can a leader’s kindness backfire? Three globally recognized Florida-based scholars will each share insights from their research on these topics and the leadership implications at The 2019 Leadership Research Colloquium hosted by the Center for Leadership at FIU.
Good leadership is... investing in others
Who makes a difference in our communities? It is often those who are making a difference at work. Our exemplary leader profile highlights Gerald C. Grant and his leadership both at work and in our community.
Leadership in the ‘rest of the world’
A newly released study by the FIU Center for Leadership research team examined two leadership behaviors - benevolence and authority, under our noses, and in distant lands.
Earning a Standing Ovation: Celebrity Violinist Roddy Chong Explores Leading from the Stage
Want to perform better in your personal and professional career? Read how Roddy Chong explains good performances, great leadership, and earning a standing ovation. Below are excerpts of that conversation:– then hear her presentation January 23, 2019 at the Leadership Lecture from the Center for Leadership at Florida International University.
Dr. CEO: A conversation with Dr. Wael Barsoum
Wael Barsoum was a successful surgeon with Cleveland Clinic, overseeing the Department of Orthopedics and innovating joint replacement techniques, when he began spotting areas for operational improvement at the Ohio hospital. Read this Q&A from an accomplished doctor turned CEO.
Rebels in life and the workplace have a bad reputation. In Rebel Talent, Harvard professor and author Francesca Gino explores how these apparent troublemakers, outcasts, and contrarians unleash creativity and improve business – and humanity.
Are you up for the challenge? From Task-oriented Manager to Operational Leader
Savvy managers are critical contributors to organizational success. Increasingly organizations must rely on their managers to make decisions with far-reaching impact and, in turn, the best managers continuously nurture skills to position themselves to make the best decisions more often. Ultimately, organizations must answer the question, “Are our managers ready to go from task-oriented contributors to operational leaders?”
Three Ingredients for Success: Chef Michelle Bernstein on Cooking, Life, and Leadership
Want a recipe for success? Read how Chef Michelle Bernstein went from reluctant cook to celebrity chef to successful business owner – then hear her presentation October 11 at the Leadership Lecture from the Center for Leadership at Florida International University.
Beyond the Corner Office: Leading with Extraordinary Talent
Miami’s own Michelle Bernstein is an award-winning celebrity chef and world-renowned violinist Roddy Chong are coming to a stage near you.
Educational and entrepreneurial visionary, Michelle Abbs, named 2018 Emerging Leader Award Winner by the Center for Leadership at Florida International University and in partnership with the Alvah H. and Wyline P. Chapman Foundation.
When does charisma hinder leadership?
Charismatic leaders often are praised for their charm and ability to inspire devotion in others. They’re effective. They have influence. But can a leader’s charisma become “too much of a good thing”?
Saluting South Florida’s Best: The 2018 Emerging Leader Award Finalists
From technologists and thought leaders, to civic managers, a banker, and advocates for at-risk youth, finalists for this year’s Emerging Leader Award presented by the Center for Leadership at FIU represent the best among South Florida’s rising stars.
When personal strengths and work converge.
Learn how Vice President of Finance at FedEx Services, Jane Amaba, leveraged what she learned at our program and the outcomes it brought.
Nelson L. Adams, III, M.D., is a busy man. When he’s not delivering some 30 babies each month, he is chairman of one of Florida’s largest Medicaid HMOs and serves on the boards of a host of religious and charitable organizations.
Letting go of bad habits while learning new ways to lead
When Chris Cataldi first enrolled in The High-Impact Leadership Program at the Center for Leadership at Florida International University, he arrived with one challenge for which he wanted to get some expert guidance; however, a different challenge became apparent, thanks to the program.
Senior executive learns to refocus on personal and professional strengths
Adriene McCoy brought with her a list of professional habits she wanted to improve upon when she participated in The Women Leaders Program, an executive leadership development program presented by the Center for Leadership at Florida International University.
Continuous learning – the secret of highly successful executives
Joseph L. Caruncho launched Preferred Care Partners and grew it to become a $750 million healthcare provider with 600 employees, before selling it in 2012 to United Healthcare. Today he is the founder and CEO of Genuine Health Group, which in a short time has grown to over $100 million in annual revenues.
Different industries, different work; peer learning is powerful.
One of the most enduring lessons Jenn Crenshaw learned when she participated in The High-Impact Leadership executive development program (at the Center for Leadership at Florida International University) actually came from a fellow participant. Paired with an officer from the U.S. Southern Command, Crenshaw learned of a military decision-making process that welcomes input before decisions are made.
Bridging cultures, delivering results
Raul X. Palacios had 20 years of experience as an executive working throughout Latin America when he took a new position heading the Miami office of Daikin Applied, a global corporation that designs, manufactures and sells heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) products for commercial buildings. Yet working with a U.S. team as they serviced American customers presented Raul with a bit of culture shock.
More than a course – a transformation
Trish Brennan, vice president of human resources at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts in Miami, is lavish in her praise of The High-Impact Leadership Program offered by The Center for Leadership at Florida International University. Brennan attended the program more than seven years ago. As she hears herself talk about the impact of the program’s lessons, she admits it all “sounds too good to be true.”
Carlos Humberto Escobar was a marketing manager with no direct reports when he registered for an executive leadership development program at the Center for Leadership at Florida International University in 2011. Seven years later, Escobar is still using lessons learned during The High-Impact Leadership Program, even leadership skills that did not fully resonate at the time.
When Julie Lanz walked into the Center for Leadership at Florida International University (FIU) as a graduate assistant, she admits she “looked and sounded like a jeans and Birkenstock-wearing” graduate student. When she graduated five years later, she had learned to “dress like a professional and think like a leader.”
Before Nancy Scally attended a 2010 executive leadership program at the Center for Leadership at FIU, she was skeptical. “I went in saying, ‘I own my own successful business. Who’s going to tell me how to run things?’” says Scally, CEO of Colorado Engineering, Inc.
The mission to Mars – and other ‘Pathways to Leadership’
What do the Mars mission, personal authenticity, and positive relationships have in common? Each may reveal proven and uncharted “Pathways to Leadership.” The three will be explored as The Leadership Research Colloquium reveals the latest research and showcases new insights for effective organizational leadership.
It's not how old you are that matters!
When HR.com’s Leadership Excellence magazine awarded two prestigious, first-place LEAD Awards to Florida International University’s Center for Leadership, it was the fifth straight year The Center earned top honors for its executive leadership development programs. The 2018 wins were based on the fundamental formula for the curriculum of all Center programs offered in its young 10-year history: (1) help executives understand themselves better and (2) teach them developable leadership skills with proven impact.
The Center for Leadership at Florida International University took two first-place wins at the prestigious 2018 LEAD Awards, besting competition that included several Ivy League institutions. The announcement was made February 8, 2018, at the annual LEAD Conference in Salt Lake City, UT. Dr. Nathan J. Hiller, academic director for the Center for Leadership, and Shannon Hanson, assistant director, were on hand to accept the awards.
That restaurant meal you ate last weekend may have been quite different if not for chef Alice Waters. How did she influence the entire restaurant industry? Sure – she is considered the founder of the farm-to-table movement, but, it’s not about her restaurants. In this month’s Leadership Insights section, we focus on field research done by Dr. Sydney Finkelstein, friend of the FIU Center for Leadership and Professor of Management at Dartmouth’s Tuck School of Management.
Making the grade. FIU’s Center for Leadership impacts MDCPS
When Alberto Carvalho arrived as Superintendent of Miami-Dade County Public Schools (MDCPS) in 2008, state education officials were threatening to close nine failing high schools. The District’s graduation rate was below 60 percent, and the school system was on the brink of bankruptcy.
Women in Leadership: Trade-Offs, ‘Ownership,’ Hustling, and a Work in Progress
From the C-suite to Main Street, women business leaders face similar challenges. They are pioneers and visionaries, arguably underestimated by male contemporaries yet they remain intensely focused on what is needed to lead. Pilar Guzman Zavala is one of those leaders. As co-owner and CEO of Half Moon Empanadas, Guzman enjoys success. But it has not come easily or predictably.
Designing your life- it’s never too early or too late.
Dave Evans, co-founder of the Stanford University Life Design Lab and former Apple executive, will present his lecture, Designing Your Life, sharing insights from his popular Stanford course and NY Times #1 bestseller of the same name at The Leadership Lectures.
