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Voices of Leadership… Dr. Rufus Glasper, Chancellor, Maricopa County Community College District, Tempe, Arizona, USA
Given the quote above, how do you build and sustain a culture of leadership in your organization?
On Leading Forward Te complexities of today’s community colleges require distributed leadership, with leaders who are as adaptive
as our colleges, who understand and utilize multiple leadership strategies as appropriate for the context. Tis
necessitates engaging in leadership development strategically.
In looking forward, what represents the greatest opportunity you believe leaders should be pursuing in moving skill sets forward?
Leaders need to have expanded understanding of and experience with multidimensional leadership practices.
Tey need to develop enhanced skills in collaborative engagement internally and externally, and be given
opportunities to challenge the status quo with a focus on student success.
What stands out as the greatest challenge as your leaders move forward?
One of the greatest challenges is also an opportunity – the past is no longer a roadmap for the future. Te new
community college is ours to create.
David G. Ross, Ph.D., President, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Given the quote above, how do you build and sustain a culture of leadership in your organization?
I believe that critical to leadership success is the need for a well understood organizational vision that provides important
context regarding direction, alignment, and commitment. Leaders then need to be given responsibility for decision
making and implementation to build their leadership experience and capacity.
In looking forward, what represents the greatest opportunity you believe leaders should be pursuing in moving skill sets forward?
At the core of the opportunity is the establishment of a culture where leaders are engaged and, through that, believe
that they can be leaders. Part of this is regular, meaningful connections to support, discuss, and understand what is
critical to their success and the advancement of the organization. To gain further momentum, I also attempt to leverage
individual motivation to help align their passion with the opportunities that evolve.
What stands out as the greatest challenge as your leaders move forward?
Tere are many challenges facing leaders today. However the one that I see either accelerating or hindering organization achievement relates to the
talent economy. Tis means that organizations and leaders will rise and fall on their ability to attract and retain the skilled individuals relevant to
the vision they are attempting to achieve.
Kathy Kinloch, President, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Given the above quote, how do you build and sustain a culture of leadership in your organization?
Outstanding leaders enlist others in a common vision and strategy – all with a goal of engaging the most valued
resource: people. A culture of leadership is sustained through clarity of purpose, aligned focus, and coaching
leadership style. Creating such a culture takes focus and time – it does not happen by accident.
In looking forward, what represents the greatest opportunity you believe leaders should be pursuing in moving skill sets forward?
Determine what distinguishes your institution. Two key questions for me: what is our strategic focus and what
gives our organization its strategic edge? Listening to those inside and outside the organization will deepen
the understanding of potential.
What stands out as the greatest challenge as your leaders move forward?
Te strongest leaders understand that the present is a platform to envision and position for the future. Te
leader’s role is to connect the dots between the two. But inspiring innovation and change is more than a
process: it’s a mindset. Leading in a status quo mindset will not be efective for a future forward organization.
Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, President, Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida, USA
Given the quote above, how do you build and sustain a culture of leadership in your organization?
Ask people to be conscious, to be awake to how the organization can be alive and in touch with its mission. Demystify
the leadership ideal. The organization will be vibrant if the leadership is constantly listening and encouraging new
ideas. A culture of leadership is a culture of ownership, and that gives rise to a culture of innovation.
In looking forward, what represents the greatest opportunity you believe leaders should be pursuing in moving skill sets forward?
Te greatest resource we have is our people. Encourage self-evaluation. What if our people were fearless in reaching for
more understanding and contribution? When people want to grow, that’s contagious. People make each other better.
What stands out as the greatest challenge as your leaders move forward?
Higher education is on a course of inevitable change. Dealing with change efectively, engaging colleagues, and viewing the
possibilities with clarity and honesty will be our greatest challenge.
LEADERSHIP Vol. 20.2 Fall 2014 5
Client: The Chair Academy Job: CHAIRAcademy_Journal_20.2 fall 2014
Final size: 8.5” x 11” Colors: CMYK Bleeds: Yes
Created by: Goldfsh Creative - Laura Dvir • 602.349.2220 • goldfshcreates@q.com
Given the quote above, how do you build and sustain a culture of leadership in your organization?
On Leading Forward Te complexities of today’s community colleges require distributed leadership, with leaders who are as adaptive
as our colleges, who understand and utilize multiple leadership strategies as appropriate for the context. Tis
necessitates engaging in leadership development strategically.
In looking forward, what represents the greatest opportunity you believe leaders should be pursuing in moving skill sets forward?
Leaders need to have expanded understanding of and experience with multidimensional leadership practices.
Tey need to develop enhanced skills in collaborative engagement internally and externally, and be given
opportunities to challenge the status quo with a focus on student success.
What stands out as the greatest challenge as your leaders move forward?
One of the greatest challenges is also an opportunity – the past is no longer a roadmap for the future. Te new
community college is ours to create.
David G. Ross, Ph.D., President, Southern Alberta Institute of Technology, Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Given the quote above, how do you build and sustain a culture of leadership in your organization?
I believe that critical to leadership success is the need for a well understood organizational vision that provides important
context regarding direction, alignment, and commitment. Leaders then need to be given responsibility for decision
making and implementation to build their leadership experience and capacity.
In looking forward, what represents the greatest opportunity you believe leaders should be pursuing in moving skill sets forward?
At the core of the opportunity is the establishment of a culture where leaders are engaged and, through that, believe
that they can be leaders. Part of this is regular, meaningful connections to support, discuss, and understand what is
critical to their success and the advancement of the organization. To gain further momentum, I also attempt to leverage
individual motivation to help align their passion with the opportunities that evolve.
What stands out as the greatest challenge as your leaders move forward?
Tere are many challenges facing leaders today. However the one that I see either accelerating or hindering organization achievement relates to the
talent economy. Tis means that organizations and leaders will rise and fall on their ability to attract and retain the skilled individuals relevant to
the vision they are attempting to achieve.
Kathy Kinloch, President, British Columbia Institute of Technology, Burnaby, British Columbia, Canada
Given the above quote, how do you build and sustain a culture of leadership in your organization?
Outstanding leaders enlist others in a common vision and strategy – all with a goal of engaging the most valued
resource: people. A culture of leadership is sustained through clarity of purpose, aligned focus, and coaching
leadership style. Creating such a culture takes focus and time – it does not happen by accident.
In looking forward, what represents the greatest opportunity you believe leaders should be pursuing in moving skill sets forward?
Determine what distinguishes your institution. Two key questions for me: what is our strategic focus and what
gives our organization its strategic edge? Listening to those inside and outside the organization will deepen
the understanding of potential.
What stands out as the greatest challenge as your leaders move forward?
Te strongest leaders understand that the present is a platform to envision and position for the future. Te
leader’s role is to connect the dots between the two. But inspiring innovation and change is more than a
process: it’s a mindset. Leading in a status quo mindset will not be efective for a future forward organization.
Dr. Eduardo J. Padron, President, Miami Dade College, Miami, Florida, USA
Given the quote above, how do you build and sustain a culture of leadership in your organization?
Ask people to be conscious, to be awake to how the organization can be alive and in touch with its mission. Demystify
the leadership ideal. The organization will be vibrant if the leadership is constantly listening and encouraging new
ideas. A culture of leadership is a culture of ownership, and that gives rise to a culture of innovation.
In looking forward, what represents the greatest opportunity you believe leaders should be pursuing in moving skill sets forward?
Te greatest resource we have is our people. Encourage self-evaluation. What if our people were fearless in reaching for
more understanding and contribution? When people want to grow, that’s contagious. People make each other better.
What stands out as the greatest challenge as your leaders move forward?
Higher education is on a course of inevitable change. Dealing with change efectively, engaging colleagues, and viewing the
possibilities with clarity and honesty will be our greatest challenge.
LEADERSHIP Vol. 20.2 Fall 2014 5
Client: The Chair Academy Job: CHAIRAcademy_Journal_20.2 fall 2014
Final size: 8.5” x 11” Colors: CMYK Bleeds: Yes
Created by: Goldfsh Creative - Laura Dvir • 602.349.2220 • goldfshcreates@q.com
