I am not going to sugarcoat it. Leading in these times has not been easy. So much of what we once considered predictable, dependable, or even permanent feels uncertain. Institutions we trusted are being tested. Longstanding assumptions are being challenged. The human suffering around us has taken a whole other
One of the great gifts of participating in the Aspen Presidents Fellowship has been the opportunity to learn alongside a remarkable group of visionary leaders from institutions that differ in geography, size, history, resources, and the students and communities they serve. Last month, I had an opportunity to be in
When our kids were little, I got them reading tablets. In addition to the traditional paper books, they had their digital books onto which we downloaded and conveniently traveled with loads of books that required almost no space. They also shared an iPad that had a ton of educational games.
The events season this spring was full and even more festive than usual. My favorites were the three culminating events I attended: our son’s graduation, our commencement at the College, and the Class of 2025’s graduation at the high school whose board I sit on. These culminating events were adrenaline-filled,
People is to culture as strategy is to vision. The management guru, Peter Drucker, is credited as saying that “culture eats strategy for breakfast.” Most leaders I know subscribe to that axiom. Just as a great vision needs good strategies and tactics to bring it to life, culture is driven
In my first year at any institution, I spend time understanding the history, the culture, the challenges and opportunities, what people take pride in, and what folks collectively see as needing to change immediately. I study the artifacts and meet with internal and external stakeholders. As I engage in this
We are living in a volatile period. We made it through a global health crisis, but not without scars or loss. We continue to learn how our interdependent global economy is vulnerable to disruptions. Inflation, real and perceived economic instability, wars and other geopolitical conflicts, have consequential implications for every
How many times have you heard people say “I’m not here to make friends” when referring to workplace relationships? I have heard it almost exclusively from women. Not wanting to make friends at work is the wrong attitude toward work and can hinder your career progression and success. I will
There is magic in seeing others who have traveled paths similar to yours not just make it but thrive in their craft. Inspiration, pride, validation, vulnerability, community, authenticity, struggle, overcoming, resilience, fear, pain, love, courage, and beauty are among the words that surfaced for me when listening to Dulce Orozco,
On my bucket list for this summer was going white water rafting. I had long wanted to do it but never got around to it. This is the year, I said to myself, at the start of the summer. We went with Zoar Outdoor and had a great, experienced guide
When I was first approached by Denise Kaigler about joining the CEO Peer Advisory group that she was launching, I was somewhat skeptical. I am generally inundated with emails from facilitators asking me to join their groups, but because I had known Denise for a decade and knew her work, I was
Last week, Salem State University (SSU) hosted New England’s first conference of Hispanic Serving Institutions (HSIs). It was an energetic gathering of dynamic speakers, passionate leaders, and students. It was a convening that Urban College of Boston could not miss. Our college is 90% students of color, most of whom
This year, I am pleased to be part of Civic Nation’s ALL IN Presidents’ Council and to have our college involved in the ALL IN Campus Democracy Challenge encouraging students to participate in our upcoming elections. Our non-partisan efforts are simply aimed at getting students to develop or continue the
Early on in my career, I learned the important roles that executive assistants play. For those seeking access, they are the gatekeepers. For those they support, they are the information keepers, the observers, the landmine cartographers, and the conductors who orchestrate the smooth operation of executive offices. Throughout my career,
This year, the Board of Trustees of Urban College of Boston bestows two honorary degrees to two extraordinary women, Colette Phillips and Dora De Leon. Colette Phillips is a global brand, but her local leadership and passion for Boston and Massachusetts are palpable even as her influences extend well beyond
Last night, I met Jill Scott. Yes, in the flesh. I wanted to cry. When I caught a glimpse of her at my son’s middle school’s Board of Trustees meeting, I thought she was a teacher. As a person of color in a leadership role at the school, I felt
Fake it until you make it. We have all heard that phrase. Over the course of my professional life, my approach has been to push through my zone of discomfort on the road to fully mastering the competencies I am developing. This worked in my personal life starting with when,
Last week, as part of our speaker series, we welcomed Dr. Cynthia Orellana whose compelling personal and professional journeys resonated with our learners and inspired them. The child of immigrants, a first-generation college student and doctora, Cynthia was candid, authentic, and vulnerable as she reflected on the colorism, sexism, and
So, it’s the end of my first semester as the President of Urban College of Boston. I returned to the presidency after a two-year break. I took on the challenge of leading a college again, and I am now applying all that I learned not only in my former presidencies
If you don’t subscribe to the Harvard Business Review or MIT’s Sloan Management Review, I highly recommend you do. They are part of my staple weekly readings. Their articles are empirically based, offering advice on leadership, management of others and oneself, nurturing oneself, and so many other topics. The digital
This month, in honor of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, I decided to do something different: to feature colleagues and mentees on my LinkedIn. A colleague who saw my recent posts reached out and said that she wished someone had done that for her when she was going up the ladder; perhaps
Early in my leadership career, one of my mentors suggested that I read Sylvia Ann Hewlett’s book on executive presence. I was a shy, young executive saddled with lots of culturally embedded behaviors that did not help me in becoming an effective leader. For instance, I was very uncomfortable looking
One of the biggest complaints that I hear from people I mentor and from colleagues is that they sometimes don’t feel heard or hear their ideas, once discarded or not acknowledged, get support when they are presented by another person. Some folks also complain about difficulty getting support from peers
First Day as President of Urban College of Boston First, let me say that I did not think that I would become a president so soon again. I thought maybe when the kids go to college, I might consider it. I opted to throw my hat in the ring at