A Message from New Leadership Austin CEO Christopher Kennedy

I am honored to have the opportunity to serve as Chief Executive Officer of Leadership Austin. For 35 years, we have been developing and connecting community leaders in our effort to build a better region. Now, as the fourth CEO, I am anxious to build upon the organization's accomplishments and to continue to focus on exploring critical community issues, developing leadership skills to address those issues, and fostering relationships that help facilitate positive, collaborative civic engagement.

I joined Leadership Austin in 1995, when it was still part of the Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce. I was not accepted into the ESSENTIAL class until my third application, but it was well worth the wait. My Leadership Austin experiences continue to influence how and where I spend my time. In addition, it has been a privilege to serve three terms on the Leadership Austin Board of Directors in 1996, 2001 and 2009. As I assume hands-on management of the organization, I plan to draw upon my perspective as someone who was served by Leadership Austin and someone who helped set direction for Leadership Austin.

My central belief is that we all share a role and responsibility to help shape our community. For the last 32 years, I've been fortunate to call Austin home and to work with smart people on exciting projects that have made a positive impact on our region. I look forward to working with each of you to shape creative experiences through which Leadership Austin can continue to make Greater Austin the best possible place to lead and live.

For over 35 years Leadership Austin's shared belief in the civic health of Greater Austin has been reaffirmed in our core values of Community Trusteeship, Inclusiveness, Collaborative Decision-Making and Personal Responsibility. These values have been our firm foundation as we have grown from the single program in 1979 to the five programs today.

I will continue the Leadership Austin legacy of energizing one another to create the community we call home. Our home is growing, changing and expanding. It attracts some of the brightest minds, most ambitious entrepreneurs and most dedicated community-builders. The challenges are many, but the opportunities provided by this growth are unmatched in any city in the United States. I look forward to diving into my new role with incredible support from the Board, staff, alumni and our community. As we celebrate our 35th Anniversary year, we can look back with pride on what we have accomplished and know that the best is yet to be realized.

Christopher Kennedy
Chief Executive Officer
Leadership Austin
ckennedy@leadershipaustin.org

January 2014 ENGAGE Recap

Guest post from 2013-14 ENGAGE Breakfast Series guest blogger Alicia Dietrich. Alicia is a public affairs representative at the Harry Ransom Center at The University of Texas at Austin. See the end of this post for the podcast from the breakfast.
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The January installment of Leadership Austin’s ENGAGE breakfast series explored the best ways for leaders to move Austin forward during this period of tremendous growth and change. Panelists Travis County Judge Sam Biscoe and University of Texas at Austin Professor Jeremi Suri sat down with moderator Shannon Wolfson of KXAN to discuss the challenges Austin faces as it grows, and what it will take for leaders to address those issues.

Suri outlined what he believes to be the three greatest leadership challenges facing Austin: the challenge of success and how to lead beyond that, diverse groups in Austin not living in integrated ways, and the uneven growth of the economy and lack of opportunities for upward mobility.

January 2014 ENGAGE breakfast at the Long Center

To address Austin’s greatest challenges, Biscoe advocated for better collaboration between the city, government agencies, nonprofits, and community leaders. He noted the improved state of mental health care in the city after local hospitals worked with the county jail to make sure that patients were getting appropriate treatment instead of jail time.

However, he said that while the city has high aspirations for cooperation, we often fall short on implementation.

"We've always done a good job of studying and putting together reports and plans," he said. It's the next step that’s key, though.

He explained that government tends to respond to issues and problems, and if you have a problem you want solved, you need to get it in front of the right person and work to build consensus.

"We respond, by and large, to specific issues that we try to fix," he said. "I don’t know if we as a county ever sit down and think, 'What kind of Travis County do we want?'"

He noted that building consensus and compromise are crucial: "If you have five persons responsible for a decision, you'll see that often what we approve wasn't what was brought to us. But you'll see what got consensus and what we had resources to back up."

KXAN's Kate Weidaw interviews
panelist Judge Sam Biscoe

Suri noted that it was important that people learn that compromise is necessary and that they shouldn’t feel shut out of the process if they don’t get everything they want. "When people come to believe it's a process where the decision of today isn't the last decision—if they only got 20 percent of what they wanted today, maybe tomorrow they'll get something more. When it's a process and you have credibility, that's what works."

Suri also discussed the importance of crossing lines in politics to get things done. "We need to talk to people who think differently and see things differently. We need to make a conscious effort to cross lines because you can't [create change] if you're only talking to people who already agree with you. You need to make a conscious effort to cross lines, and the beauty of Austin is that we have such an intellectual diversity here all around us."

As Austin moves toward a new City Council structure next year with single-member districts, both panelists stressed the importance of asking tough questions of potential leaders to make sure they can articulate a vision for the city’s future and how they will include everyone in that vision.

"As an elected official, your attitude should be 'I represent all county residents,'" said Biscoe. "From the neighborhood association level on up, inclusion should be part of everything we do. If we err, it should be that we included too many people."

Suri said, "We desperately need people in this city now who can continue to talk to groups who have been dominating dialog but are also able to bring other people in and connect them. Successful politicians are connectors. Second, I think it’s time we ask our politicians to say not just what they promise to do about a problem, but what they envision the city looking like. I think we do need a vision. I don’t mean a visionary in terms of pie in the sky, but an ability to articulate, to tell us a story about how you see our city with all these changes, institutionally and economically, growing in the next five to 10 years and how we can all be part of making that kind of city."

Both panelists also emphasized the importance of mentoring and incubating future leaders, through encouraging students to pursue public service and by implementing permanent succession strategies at the government level.

"We need to remind people at all age levels, but particularly young people, that public service is a noble calling," said Suri. "Leadership has to involve politics in your organization and in your city."

Full Audio from the Event


Download this audio file (MP3)

Leadership Starts by Asking the Big Questions

Guest post from January ENGAGE panelist Jeremi Suri. Jeremi is the Mack Brown Distinguished Chair for Leadership in Global Affairs at The University of Texas at Austin. You can read more of his writing on his website: jeremisuri.net.
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Successful leaders do not believe that they have the correct answers. They do not have set plans. Policy-making in a period of rapid change and multiplying uncertainties offers few clear paths forward. The role of leadership, especially in a city like Austin, is to make sure diverse stakeholders are energized to explore the big questions: What kind of city do we want to live in? How can we grow while preserving the qualities that have made Austin so livable and attractive?

The model for the leadership we need today in Austin is neither charismatic nor technocratic. Charismatic figures are eloquent and persuasive, but they encourage simple choices and polarized opinions. We have enough of that already. Technocratic leaders have detailed knowledge about key issues, but they have trouble seeing the connections that matter most for life, economy, and community. Too much obsession with the details can make inspiring change impossible.

The most successful cities in the United States are governed today by figures who see themselves as brokers with a vision. Urban officials must speak to different groups and take their interests seriously. They must manage diverse revenue flows from taxpaying families, local businesses, tourists, and state and federal agencies. They must also oversee complex spending flows through school districts, police and fire departments, municipal transportation units, housing agencies, and other services of last resort.
There are no consistent formulas for reconciling these different interests. The revenues and expenditures are often unpredictable, especially when the local economy is growing quickly but unevenly. City leaders must constantly adjust to bring different groups into balance, serving many masters and re-defining the common ground that addresses the broadest set of urban needs. This is the fundamental brokering function of city leaders—the core of urban politics.

Vision, however, is essential to making urban politics serve a higher purpose. Successful cities have leaders who continually remind negotiating groups that they should work toward something larger than just their immediate interests. Skilled leaders do not dictate a vision, but they motivate stakeholders to see personal value in looking forward toward a larger image of what their city should be like, and what role they should play. A city is, after all, as much an idea as a reality. Urban groups must see themselves as part of something more than themselves—a community—and leaders must help them articulate this vision and its service to each stakeholder’s long-term goals.

No one person or group can impose a vision on another one, especially in a large and decentralized city like Austin. A common idea of what Austin is about must emerge from continual engagement among diverse stakeholders. The common idea will constantly evolve, building on a venerable past as it adjusts to the opportunities and demands of the present.

City leaders are not the dictators or even deciders for the governing vision of Austin. They are the facilitators of the process, insuring its depth, fairness, and representativeness. City leaders must keep the engine of the city running as they push citizens to steer together to a mutually beneficial destination. City leaders cannot presume to know the precise coordinates or the exact route for the destination. Their job is to ask, time and again: Where are we going? How will we get there? How can we keep everyone on board?

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NOTE: The opinions of Leadership Austin alumni, faculty members, and guest bloggers are their own, and do not represent an official position of the organization. To purchase tickets to the January 8 ENGAGE breakfast featuring Jeremi Suri, please visit the Leadership Austin website.

[Partner Feature] The Three R’s of Effective Board Leadership

Guest post from Bergan Casey and Stacy Ehrlich of Seeds for Change Consulting, LLC. Seeds for Change is an Austin-based customized consulting firm serving nonprofit organizations.
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Many organizations fail to maximize the full potential of their boards of directors. Instead of cultivating hands-on, constructive boards, many organizations choose members in haphazard fashion without giving consideration to the attributes and experiences of potential candidates.

As a result of poor choices, nonprofit organizations sometimes find themselves unable to meet their mission. Absent are board members who meet all of the necessary criteria: experience with strategic planning, communications and marketing, strong financial management, development, events and resource management. For instance, while some boards may be comprised of talented party planners, they may lack strategic vision or industry best practices. The opposite is also true, an overemphasis on new programming is detrimental to an organization if the board has not identified appropriate revenue streams.

As a result of limited capacity, boards will laser focus on the one or two objectives instead of multiple. Or they capitalize on a handful of board members to the exclusion of the rest. And in many cases, underutilized board members withdraw or quit. No wonder nine out of 10 Austin area nonprofit organizations claim multiple board vacancies.

The best board members come from being personally cultivated and asked to serve, and not because they revolve in similar circles but because they revolve in different ones.

• RECRUIT by networking with spheres of influence beyond your own. Take a risk. Find potential candidates and engage in conversations about expectations and mission-based strategies, and precisely what added values these board members can bring to the table.

Once you recruit strong board members, you must be able to RETAIN them. The best board members will move mountains, finding creative solutions to issues and generating new strategies.

• Create expectations that all board members will do their homework ahead of time and come to meetings prepared. As a result, board members will focus less time on reporting what they already know and more time on collective collaboration.

Lastly, board members should always be searching for their REPLACEment during their tenure, not waiting until the final hour.

• Identify someone who fits your profile if that is what is needed, or identify someone who will fill gaps in knowledge. Organizational planning evolves during the three to six years of a board member's service, and it is important to anticipate the next chapter of your organization.

Nonprofits who practice the three R's—Recruit, Retain and Replace—will empower their volunteer leadership and propel their organizations to new heights.

Another Big Fall Season for Leadership Austin

A message from 2013-14 Leadership Austin Board Chair Brian Dolezal (ESSENTIAL 2001).
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Outside, it’s finally beginning to feel like fall - well, Austin’s version of it - but inside Leadership Austin, the season is heating up. This is Leadership Austin’s busiest time of year and for good reason: we've kicked off all four of our programs in the past six weeks, and, as you might imagine, there is a lot of terrific, behind-the-scenes work that goes into them thanks to professional staff members and committed board members and volunteers. Here’s a brief update:

ESSENTIAL
The 60-member ESSENTIAL Class participated in a stellar opening retreat September 6-7 at T Bar M Resort in New Braunfels. Thanks to the leadership of Ashley Phillips, Christopher Kennedy (ESSENTIAL 1995), Sam Planta (ESSENTIAL 1991) and a number of CREW volunteers, the kick-off event to this in-depth, nine-month course on regional issues and leadership skills was spectacular, and their first class at Shoal Crossing was equally impressive. You can view the current class roster here. A big thanks, once again, to Seton Healthcare Family for underwriting the ESSENTIAL Class for the sixth consecutive year. Thanks also to H-E-B for their ongoing support of our Healthy Living for Leaders initiative throughout the season.

ENGAGE
Led by Julie Smith (EMERGE 2011), we've gathered a diverse group of community leaders who have been very active in the ENGAGE Breakfast Series to gain their insight on topics and speakers for this season's programs. The 2013-14 series began earlier this month at the Kodosky Lounge - thanks to our partnership with the Long Center for the Performing Arts - with a topic that’s on everyone’s mind: water. Once again, KXAN News is on board to help promote and facilitate our conversations. And, as you may have recently seen, the Austin Board of REALTORS® is our new presenting sponsor. Our next ENGAGE breakfast about the growing international community in Austin is Wednesday, November 6. Be sure to register now because they sell out fast.

EXPERIENCE AUSTIN
A new group of new Central Texans (or those who are newly re-engaging with Austin) are now gaining a crash course in the region’s issues through EXPERIENCE AUSTIN, which launched Friday, October 18. Presented by Bank of America, the program began with a daylong session to give participants a broad overview of our region’s key issues, and will continue with four weeks of deeper-dive conversations with experts on a variety of topics.

EMERGE
Our next class of 55 emerging leaders (check out the roster here) are now participating in the 7th annual EMERGE program. Thanks to underwriting from St. David’s Foundation, the six-week course at Jackson Walker is in full swing. We're so thrilled to welcome this and previous classes into our alumni network, now about 3,500 members strong… fitting since this is Leadership Austin’s 35th anniversary!

…and that’s just the programs. Additionally, we've begun the formal search process for Leadership Austin’s next CEO and for a new development director. Despite officially being down two positions, our team, facilitated by Seth Sather, is doing a phenomenal job raising the critical funds to keep our programs so essential, engaging, experienced and emerging for our community. There are still plenty of ways to lend your individual or organization’s financial support to Leadership Austin, so feel free to contact me or our interim CEO Christopher Kennedy to discuss the possibilities.

Furthermore, our active board is having some productive conversations on everything from celebrating our 35th anniversary to making our programs even more effective for all of our alumni. Thanks to Jeff Olmeda for keeping us moving forward at a critical time for the organization.

Last but not least, make sure you get these important milestones on your calendar now: our annual alumni holiday party is Tuesday, December 10 at Shoal Crossing (Mopac just north of Steck, where Harold’s Outlet Barn used to be) and the Best Party Ever - presented by H-E-B - is scheduled for Friday, May 9 (not the same weekend as the ROT Rally!) back at the W Hotel.

So yes, it’s a busy fall around here. And as you enjoy a crisp morning and mild afternoon, we hope you’ll take a moment to recall your experiences with Leadership Austin, and perhaps schedule a Walk and Talk with a fellow leader.

With much appreciation to everyone who helps lead this great community,

Brian Dolezal
Chair, Leadership Austin Board of Directors

EMERGE Is...

Guest post from EMERGE 2011 alum Allison Daskam.
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What is EMERGE? It’s a question that I’ve been asked often, and the answer depends on the person asking. When I started the EMERGE Program in 2011, I wanted to hone my leadership skills. It turns out I was in the perfect place to accomplish that goal, but not in the way I expected.

A key component to EMERGE is defining your core energy. It’s akin to a personality test, and the answer was clear for me. I’m highly analytical and hence defined as a Maven. I expected my analytical skills to be the foundation for my growth as a leader, but the relationships I formed in EMERGE have proven to be equally (if not more) influential. Being in the midst of people who are pursuing excellence is contagious. The people I met through EMERGE have motivated me to challenge my definition of professional success, put my values into action, and become more active in my community.

EMERGE 2011 alums Brandon Wollerson and Allison Daskam

At a recent EMERGE event, there was a photographer handing out whiteboards with the phrase “EMERGE is…” for guests to fill out and hold for a photo. My friend Brandon and I grabbed the boards, and I thought for a moment before writing, “EMERGE is... Brandon.” Personally, I can’t think of a better answer. Brandon is passionate about making Austin a better place, he works tirelessly in our community, and he inspires others to do the same. He is EMERGE.

Brandon is just one of many dear friends who have become the most important part of my EMERGE experience. And coming from someone who prefers data analysis to a networking event, that’s saying a lot.

EMERGE is finding your passion.
EMERGE is understanding your values.
EMERGE is becoming part of a family.
EMERGE is me.
EMERGE is Brandon.
EMERGE is you.

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Allison Daskam is Chief Communications Officer at Any Baby Can and a graduate of Texas A&M University and the Communications Leadership SPIN Academy. Leadership Austin is currently accepting applications for the EMERGE 2013 program through Thursday, August 15.

My EMERGE Experience: Katie Vitale

Guest post from EMERGE 2009 and ESSENTIAL 2013 alum Katie Vitale. Here, Katie shares her experiences learning about Leadership Austin and applying for the EMERGE program. 
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Having no expectations is a mindful and challenging practice, unless you pair that with having little to no experience of the situation you worked hard to thrust yourself into. I had no idea what to expect when I first walked into that downtown law firm conference room for my first Leadership Austin EMERGE class session. I had no idea who any of the faces around those tables belonged to. Of the dozens of people in the room, I knew not a one. I had no idea what sort of activities we would engage in to boost our leadership skills. In the midst of all these known unknowns was just where I needed to be.

The year before, one of my candidate clients at work gushed about the classmates she had in ESSENTIAL, and I became curious. When I saw these same classmates rally around her bid for office and offer the kind of support you would expect from life-long friends, my interest mounted. I can still remember attending my first ESSENTIAL recruiting reception. It seemed like everyone knew everyone else, and the conversations flowed freely echoing against the walls into the impassioned din of a pre-revolutionary salon. I was initially intimidated by it, and despite my extensive volunteer service, did not feel like I belonged in ESSENTIAL and decided to apply for EMERGE as further research - a way to determine if the further commitments and expense of ESSENTIAL were really what I wanted.

When I applied for EMERGE, it had been less than a year since I learned of Leadership Austin and its bevy of programs. I had thought of EMERGE as the junior ESSENTIAL program. Both are selective entry, both require not insignificant commitments of time, and both are enhanced by the synergy of the cohort’s composition. That was a cognitive shortcut I did not shake until my first EMERGE class.

It was that night - that first class - when I realized how two dimensional my understanding of Austin truly was. Even though I had been very active in the community, I knew zero of my classmates. At that moment I was sure that the novelty of the experience wouldn’t end there. I was really excited to see how dozens of strangers could become as close as that candidate and her classmates.

For months we met every other week, growing closer as we worked and reflected and reflected on our work. We spent the whole fall that way, sharing meals, happy hours and embarking on challenges together. Participating in the EMERGE program expanded my understanding of my city, my work, and myself. It also solidified my interest in ESSENTIAL. Today I am still in regular communication with many of those EMERGE classmates. Joining the Alumni Association fostered those bonds, but I can say that the curriculum, content, and camaraderie we generated those evenings that fall will stay with me for a long time. I expect that you will find what you are looking for in EMERGE, and it will stay with you too. Even if you have no expectations and no idea of what you will do.

In fact, in that case it’s easy, easy as walking into a conference room.

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Katie Vitale is Giving Manager and Webmaster at People's Community Clinic in Austin. Leadership Austin is currently accepting applications for the EMERGE 2013 program through Thursday, August 15.

ENGAGE Breakfast Inspires School Book Drives

The ENGAGE Breakfast Series explores community issues, facilitates civic dialogue, and calls people to action. At the end of each conversation we ask our panelists, "How can we leave here today, get involved in this issue, and make a difference?"

When we discussed education in Central Texas back in February, panelist Denise Trauth answered that question by encouraging ENGAGE attendees to donate a book to a local school to promote early reading. Sitting in the audience that day was Dr. Suzanne Burke, Associate Superintendent for Academics at Austin ISD, who took this call-to-action to heart. Since then, Dr. Burke has worked with her colleagues at AISD to create and coordinate new "Leadership Austin inspired" book drives for Dobie Pre-K Center and Webb Primary School!

If you'd like to contribute, here's how it works:

1. Take a look at the wish lists for Dobie and Webb.
2. Purchase a book from the list at Book People or the Sunset Valley Barnes and Noble between now and May 27.
3. Deliver your book to the campus, or leave it at the store and it will be delivered to your desired school during the week of May 27.
4. If you choose to leave your book at the store, please fill out this certificate and place it inside the cover to make sure it gets to the right place.
5. That's it! It's so easy, why not take a trip to the bookstore today?

We're excited that Dr. Burke has led this effort for the students of Dobie and Webb, and are proud of the small part Leadership Austin has played in igniting her passion for reading and education.

How has Leadership Austin inspired your work in the community? Let us know via Facebook, Twitter or the blog comments below... we'd love to share your story as well!

A Long, Lasting Day with Leadership Austin

Guest post from Leadership Austin board member and ESSENTIAL 2001 alum Brian Dolezal.
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Tuesday, February 5 was a long but lasting day for me. Book-ending a day that included a number of client meetings, media deadlines and preparation for our office move, were the ENGAGE breakfast featuring a panel of experts on education and the first "Meet the Leader" event of the season featuring Teddy McDaniel of the Austin Area Urban League.

Yes, it was a long day, but it was well worth it. As a Leadership Austin board member, I’m already very aware of how successful the organization is at connecting established and emerging leaders to inform them about the issues facing our community, but these two events also reminded me Leadership Austin is the catalyst to affect change.

Not only did I learn new things at both events that I can use in my professional and civic life, I reconnected with past contacts and met new leaders with whom I have already followed up to either get them involved on one of my projects or to connect them to a Leadership Austin volunteering opportunity.

Although I don’t think everyone needs to make the time to attend two Leadership Austin events in the same 24-hour period, I think a couple of doses of Leadership Austin’s phenomenal programming in short order is a great way to re-energize anyone’s commitment to our great community. And, if you are a dues-paying member of the EMERGE or ESSENTIAL alumni association, you get more opportunities to do so.

Of course, this two-event day would not have been possible without the support of Capital One Bank for presenting the ENGAGE Breakfast Series and of Pierpont Communications for presenting the "Meet the Leader" series. I encourage you to thank them at the next Leadership Austin events you attend and, hopefully, they will have the accumulating effect my recent experiences had on me.

Brian Dolezal is Vice President of Hahn, Texas public relations and Chair Elect of Leadership Austin.

"Meet the Leader" Report: Teddy McDaniel

Last week we hosted our first "Meet the Leader" session of 2013, featuring Teddy McDaniel, President and CEO for the Austin Area Urban League (AAUL). The "Meet the Leader" series of introduces Leadership Austin alums to current, relevant, or new leaders in the Austin area in a small, intimate setting (attendance is limited to 40 people). This event was possible thanks to the generous support of Stacy Armijo (EMERGE 2007, ESSENTIAL 2010) and Pierpont Communications, a Texas-based marketing and public relations firm.

Event co-chairs Susan Armstrong (ESSENTIAL 2010) and Artemio San Martin (ESSENTIAL 2011) welcomed our attendees. Teddy McDaniel then shared his personal story, highlighting his journey from Finance executive in corporate America to non-profit leader. For him, it was all about making a difference in people’s lives, and he has been able to accomplish that through his work at the AAUL, first as a volunteer and now as executive staff. Teddy made remarks around bridging the gap between access and success, and how young African-Americans have thrived through the multiple programs and initiatives offered by the AAUL - empowering the community and changing their lives.

Save the date for our next "Meet the Leader" session Wednesday April 10. Louis Grachos, newly appointed Executive Director at AMOA-Arthouse, will serve as keynote speaker. The event will be hosted at the offices of Pierpont Communications (10900-B Stonelake Blvd Ste 110) from 5:30 - 7:00 pm.

December 2012 ESSENTIAL Class Day Takeaways

Guest post from ESSENTIAL Class of 2013 participant David M. Williams, Ph.D. Dave is Founder and Improvement Advisor at TrueSimple Improvement.
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I moved to Austin in 1998. My sister lived here and made it easy to meet friends. We enjoyed sipping Mexican Martini’s at Cedar Door, watching live music at Liberty Lunch, and talking about our young lives as we were at the beginning of our careers. Everyone was young, educated (mostly UT), and the future was unknown, but bright. It was so Austin, or was it?

Among my friends, I was a little unusual. While they went off to work in non-profit offices, at the Capitol, or at young start ups, I hopped on an ambulance to serve as a paramedic in East Austin. My days and nights meant racing across city streets with lights and sirens, going from house to house, and transporting patients to the hospital. I saw the whole beautiful and sad spectrum of Austin, one person at a time. My experience of Austin was very much like the description a former democratic senator (not to be named) once described so eloquently as “Two Americas."

In September, our ESSENTIAL Class delved into U.S. Census data with City of Austin demographer Ryan Robinson and learned about the transformation of Austin as populations change and shift. It provided color to our own picture of Austin, which is sometimes only partially visible to us from where we live and work. December’s class day continued the discussion with a focus on diversity and inclusion. Here are a few of my impressions from the day.

Silent Beats Video
As part of a discussion led by Ashton Cumberbatch, Jr (ESSENTIAL 2002), VP of Advocacy and Community Relations for the Seton Healthcare Family, we were presented with the Princess Grace Award winning video “Silent Beats” - written and directed by John M. Chu and starring Antoine Grant. Watch the video below or on YouTube.

In this short, 5-minute video we watch a young black teen walking through a convenience store owned by a middle aged Asian man, and there is a white elderly woman customer present as well. As the young man walks through the store, images of stereotypes and biases pop up about the characters. None of which prove true in the end of the film.

For many, it was frustrating to feel or see these themes emerge. For example, the black youth as a person to fear. It also brought into focus how our biases or perspectives are rooted in our own experience, race, upbringing, etc., and how that may differ from the person sitting right next to you. The film and discussion that followed was a reminder of the journey and opportunity still ahead for change.

Building Trust
Sometimes the most powerful statements are those without words. Bobby Garcia (ESSENTIAL 1994), Director of Human Resources at the Seton Healthcare Family, facilitated an exercise that was new to many of us.

Bobby took us through an exercise where class members deeply and confidentially shared a series of their own life events that have shaped who they are as individuals, and that may have caused them to be discriminated against, or discriminate against others. We disclosed a great deal about ourselves, and it was powerful to see who shared your own experiences and who did not. Seeing very different people who shared common experiences - people you would have never imagined having been through such things - reminded us of our commonality. There were many emotional moments and big smiles throughout the exercise, and we sat down with a different perspective.

This is only a sample of the day’s activities. In each segment, participants broadened their learning about others, expanded their understanding of themselves, and realized common connections that were not readily apparent at breakfast.

As one man in my group said, “I feel like I know some of you better in this moment then I know some of my best friends.”

The day’s content and experience reminds us that we need to step out of ourselves, our norms, and our neighborhoods and discover all who are fellow Austinites. To realize that there are many differences worth understanding, but more in common worth embracing.

Thanks to the Leadership Austin team and the volunteer facilitators and coaches for a valuable day.

EMERGE 2012 Takeaways

Guest post from new EMERGE 2012 graduate Rand Zumwalt.
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Everyone who participates in the Leadership Austin EMERGE Program does so for a different reason. For some, it is a way to network with like-minded professionals. For others, it is to seek guidance as to which philanthropic efforts best match their skills. For me, it was mainly to sharpen my leadership skills and, perhaps, expand the reach of my business along the way.

What I discovered through my time with the group, however, is that Leadership Austin is about so much more than one might assume at first glance. From day one, it becomes obvious that the EMERGE staff cares deeply about each individual in the program and carefully crafts every session with a cohesive intentionality focused on self-discovery and equipping people to make a societal impact.

Heather, our group’s fearless leader, announced during our first session that her goal was to get us out of our comfort zone. Well, she certainly did! From impromptu speeches to the group summarizing our lives in a handful of words to competitions that involved constructing “satellites” out of children’s toys, I think it is safe to say that every person in this year’s class found themselves challenged beyond their usual capacity on a regular basis.

Each session of the Emerge program builds on its predecessor, but is flush with fresh material and organized in a distinct manner uniquely selected to best present the topic at hand. The ever-changing format kept me on my toes and excited about what was coming next. This is not your typical lecture-based, sleep-inducing program. That said, the meetings are heavy on content and time spent outside of class unpacking lessons learned is encouraged.

One of the greatest pleasures for me, as a class participant, was getting the opportunity to meet talented and bright individuals that I would not necessarily have come across in my daily life. The Leadership Austin folks clearly prioritize diversity of experience and perspective in choosing program members. At the same time, however, the standards for entry are high. Distinct points of view were a welcome feature of our class, but the integrity and shared trusteeship we all felt for the Austin community was a key factor that bound our group from the start.

Though I entered the EMERGE program with a desire to build my leadership skills – which I accomplished – I left the program with a new understanding of myself and a strong desire to dig deeper. My journey as a Leadership Austin class participant may have come to a close, but my voyage into self-discovery and empowerment have only begun. For those considering applying to the EMERGE program, all I can say is make haste and prepare for life-changing insights that will serve you well for years to come in both your professional and personal life!

Rand Zumwalt is an attorney and Principal at Zumwalt Law Group, PLLC

Leadership Austin Wins AYC FAVE Award

Submitted by Leadership Austin intern Mark Shaw.
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Leadership Austin is very proud to have been recognized as the 2012 "FAVE Professional Development Source" by the Austin Young Chamber of Commerce (AYC). It is an honor to be nominated among other great organizations like Texas MBA and The Princeton Review The award ceremony was held at the Hilton Downtown on October 19, followed by an after-party at Recess Arcade Bar.

Leadership Austin and the AYC are truly aligned in their missions. Both strive to create and grow a culture of professional engagement, connectivity, and development in order to create civic awareness and business relationships in Austin.

Austin is "the No. 1 city for young people" according to CNBC, and the Census Bureau reported the Austin MSA as the second-fastest growing metropolitan area in the country. With so many young people from all around moving here, it is very important to have a connection to this growing next generation of leaders.

The AYC is an organization designed for young professionals to engage with the community and expand professionally. They are tuned in and growing their organization rapidly. "With this rapid growth, we are now the largest young professional organization and third largest chamber of commerce in Central Texas," says Melanie Plummer, Executive Director of AYC and Leadership Austin EMERGE 2010 alum.

Leadership Austin also plays a vital role in the development of young professionals in Austin through our EMERGE Program, which is designed to deepen leadership skills and build relationships for emerging young leaders of this fantastic city. "Many of AYC's membership, volunteers, staff and Board Members have had the opportunity to experience the excellent events and programs offered by Leadership Austin," explains Blake Absher, 2012 President of the AYC and current EMERGE 2012 participant.

Thank you again to everyone who voted in the FAVE awards! We’re honored to be a part of it.

To find out more about this or our other programs, visit our website at www.leadershipaustin.org.

Sweatin' the Small Stuff: New EMERGE Participant Heather Black on the Call to Serve

Our EMERGE 2012 program launched last Thursday, and earlier this week new class participant and blogger Heather Black shared her thoughts on that first program evening. Here's a sample of the full post from her site:  

...I think we think that discovering our life’s purpose is just supposed to happen one idle Sunday while drinking a cup of coffee and looking out over Lake Austin (or a parking lot if you live in an apartment complex like me) – a thought comes to us, we pursue our passion, we can die happy, all is well. But what Heather proposed was something entirely different and it made me have a small aha moment myself. What if you don’t have one passion? What if you don’t pick one thing?

Read the original post from Heather on her blog un-Charted.

Steve Benesh on his Leadership Austin Epiphany

Here's Bracewell & Giuliani LLP Partner and former Leadership Austin Board Chair Steve Benesh (ESSENTIAL 2004) recounting his experience at Education Day during his ESSENTIAL class year:

Alums and program participants... tell us about your Leadership Austin experiences! What memorable or inspirational moments stand out to you? Was it a particular speaker, topic, statistic, etc.? What connection, collaboration, or success came as a result of your participation in Leadership Austin?

We'd love to hear from you in the comments below, via our Facebook and Twitter pages, or any other place you'd like to share. Hey, we'll even bring a camera to you if necessary! Just let us know.

I Am A Leader: Ana-Cristina González

Guest post from Emerge 2007 graduate Ana-Cristina González. Cross-posted from the SOS Leadership Blog and their "I Am A Leader" blog series. View the original post.
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I am told that anyone who speaks to me for more than 10 minutes will quickly learn that my faith and my family are the most important things in my life. When I was asked to reflect on the most important leadership roles at this time in my life, those are the themes that popped up again. I work for the Catholic Church. This was not a lifelong goal; it was never a career that had entered the long list of things I wanted to be when I grew up, but when you are called, you are called, and you must answer. My Catholic faith has shaped the servant leader in me, inside and outside of work. It's leading people through serving. It's getting your hands dirty and experiencing the situation along with your co-workers, those you supervise, your boss. To put it simply, you're walking the walk not just talking the talk. This helps build collaboration, creates a strong team, helps form a vision, and it shows those around you that you are willing to put in the hard work instead of ordering it out to others and sitting back for the results to come in. It's challenging, but it is rewarding in so many ways.

This leadership role heavily influences what I see as being one of the most important roles of my life, being a Tía (Spanish for aunt). I am blessed to be the Tía of my 7-year-old niece who is the love of my life. I have been a mentor to youth before through non-profit organizations, but this is so different and so much more! There is no doubt that we adore each other, but I want to be an example to my niece of what it means to be a strong, smart, successful, kind, generous woman in this world. I want her to see that anything is truly possible and that there are people in her life who will be there to support, guide, and love her all along her leadership journey. This holds me accountable in my role as a leader and as an important person in her life because I know she is watching me. I know she is listening. I know that she trusts me. Everyday I am working hard to be the person that my niece thinks I am.

Being the oldest in my family, I was always put in charge of things. That didn't translate into leadership roles in my life until I went to college. I went on a mission trip one year during Spring Break, and the friendships made on that trip literally changed my outlook on life but my also my role in the organization. I was sought out to be a speaker on retreats, sit on planning committees, and eventually lead 30+ college students on a mission trip. This mission trip is where I learned the best and hardest lessons of leadership. Being the official leader of your peers puts the spotlight on you in so many different ways.

• I learned how scrutiny increases, how your motives are questioned, how people tend to treat you differently (in good and bad ways), and how you lose your anonymity.
• I learned you have to have people you trust to go to so that you can just be yourself, away from the crowd. I learned that staying calm, cool, and collected (even when you aren't) will keep those around you calm.
• I learned that even though you can address every doubt that people have about your decision-making, it's sometimes best to take a deep breath and keep moving forward.
• I learned that communication is essential, that hard conversations have to happen, and how you treat people in those difficult times will address people's concerns and they will learn to trust you.
• I also learned that innovation is a must. New ideas bring about creativity that could catapult your organization to the next level or it could fail and you go back to the drawing board. Either way, you're learning and that in itself is successful.

The lessons learned from this leadership role have impacted every position I have held and every organization I have given my time to. I learned how to use my role as a leader to advocate for those who didn't have a voice when I mentored and tutored at-risk youth at an Eastside elementary school, managed a child abuse prevention program, and spoke to the community about the importance of children and education. I knew I had this passion, this desire to do more in the community but wasn't sure what to do with it. That's when I applied for Leadership Austin's inaugural Emerge class. There I met people just like me, wanting to accomplish the same things I did (in different ways), gathered together wanting to become better leaders so that we can create an even better community. This involvement led me to leadership roles within the Emerge program and friendships that introduced me to great causes that I have become involved in. It is so important to surround yourself with good people who will push you to be better and do more.

I hope the legacy that I leave behind is one of perseverance and hope. I would hope that people would say that I was someone who always stood up for what she believed in, that I was a woman of my word, and was always there for those who needed her. I want to leave behind a legacy of the importance of education, discussion, and debate but within all those the importance of listening to one another. I hope people would remember that I truly wanted to make the world, at least my little slice of it, a better place. And of course, the legacy of being the best Tía in the world!

Ana-Cristina González is Director of Stewardship and Development for Saint William’s Catholic Church in Round Rock.

I Am A Leader: Kate Stoker

Guest post from Emerge 2009 graduate and Essential Class of 2013 participant Kate Stoker. Cross-posted from the SOS Leadership Blog and their "I Am A Leader" blog series. View the original post.
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We are human; thus, we are going to do our best to make positive changes in the lives and community around us, but we are also of course going to make mistakes. I’m not perfect; no one is. It took me years to recognize that, as a leader, I could still be vulnerable and accept support. My key to being able to do this is the incredible people in my life because they are the ones that make it worthwhile. I’m leading them; it’s not about an issue, a project, or an organization. Rather it’s about the people that issue impacts, the people the project includes, or the members or supporters or the organization you’re a part of.

I am by nature a doer, and I like being in the trenches. Delegation is something I only did when I had to and that was more about self-preservation than developing those around me. My leadership journey started with an organization called the Young Women’s Alliance. I joined in 2008 and hit the ground running because that’s what I do. I jumped into fundraising events for the organization, managing and planning one almost entirely on my own. I didn't need a committee; I could do it all by myself. As a result, my perfectionist tendencies overshadowed the relationships and opportunities I had available to grow closer to others. My leadership success was based in results: funds raised, event success, checking off all my to do items first. Years later, my focus has shifted to the people part of leadership.

Most of my leadership training, if you can call “on the job, real-time, think on your feet learning opportunities” training, has started with YWA. It was the gateway to my community involvement with other Central Texas organizations. It has also provided me with a network of amazing people that serve as cheerleaders, coaches, and friends. These relationships are my safety net, and I’m able to freely be brave and move out of my comfort zone knowing they've seen me make mistakes and celebrate successes and supported me the same either way.

You probably didn't force people to follow you; they chose to follow you. With that comes responsibility to those individuals as well as the causes and values you represent. Human nature is to want to contribute, to be valued, to matter. What others gave to me I have learned to pass on: the opportunity to be part of something bigger than they are alone. After all, without them what would all this be for?

Kate Stoker is the Immediate Past President and VP of Programs & Events of the Young Women’s Alliance, a professional organization that supports young women leaders through personal and professional development.

The Soul of Leadership

Guest post from Essential Class of 2006 graduate Joe Barry.
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Decision making for a civic or community leader can be daunting to say the least. He or she often juggles a multitude of perspectives in an effort to best serve the community. There are countless examples of what we call “bad decisions” that have led to bad outcomes. And when we look back to see what went wrong we often find indicators along the decision making path where communication went awry and important information fell through the cracks.

In her book Soul at Work, Margaret Benefiel states, “most leaders want to make good decisions for their organizations and their failed decisions are not for lack of trying.” She goes on to describe that the pressures of time, unrealistic expectations, and the speed of work provide the fodder for decisions turning bad.

Of particular focus for Benefiel is how leaders and organizations listen to each other and to themselves. She uses the word "discernment" to describe this type of listening. Discernment is the process of listening for an individual’s or group’s deeper wisdom. Just imagine if we took the time to do this in our work and personal lives! It is well documented that when people feel heard, included, and respected there is an increase in productivity and employee and customer satisfaction.

Listening for deep wisdom requires us to take extra time to reflect before we act. I know this may be contradictory to the speed of work we experience today, so I offer this: we tell ourselves we don’t have the time to take five minutes to reflect because of all the external pressures we experience, yet when things go bad, we seem to find all the time in the world to get them fixed. Which is the greater cost?

Even though I employ discernment practices in my daily life, I am still drawn to make the speedy decision. I feel the pressure to get things done sooner than later risking an outcome that may be less than satisfactory. In Soul at Work, Benefiel explains “maintaining a reflective inner disposition, patiently seeking underlying issues… and testing a decision by its fruits all keep a leader operating on all cylinders.”

If you want to hear more from Margaret Benefiel, CEO of Executive Soul, she will be in Austin on October 25-26. Click here for details.

Joe Barry, MA, is an educator and spiritual director at the Seton Cove in Austin, Texas. He enjoys working with individuals and groups facilitating leadership and team development.

Three Ingredients in the Secret Sauce of Resilient Leadership

Cross post with Forefront Austin. Read the original post on the Forefront Austin website.
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Dinner is winding down. The kids need a bath, tuck-in. The couch beckons. Sometimes, in my house, the couch wins.

But that’s not every day. Not for me and not for others.

Austin is home to extraordinary individuals - people who, after a long day working and caring for themselves, friends, and family, get up from the dinner table - avoiding that couch - and go back out to serve the community. Who, instead of succumbing to anxious overload when faced with our community’s needs, move forward to work toward the greater good for everyone.

Leading change in Austin, in fact in any community, requires a long view and comfort with a lack of clarity. It demands long hours and a commitment to something beyond immediate self-gratification. There are set-backs and frustrations - there are no quick-fixes.

It’s a daunting job description, yet Austin is home to many leaders who step forward to innovate for our community, helping us respond and adapt to an ever-changing set of needs. What is it about Austin that cultivates so many who avoid the pull of the couch?

When you’ve been trying to develop a community-wide transportation system for decades, what keeps drawing you back to the table to seek new alternatives? When our population grows, stretching our capacity to serve our neediest, where do you find the unique solutions?

Leadership Austin trains leaders every day to turn their passion into action. Our programs provide practical tools for community stewardship, collaboration, inclusion and personal responsibility. But all the book learning in the world doesn’t make a capable or resilient leader. It takes something more. In the course of my work I am extremely lucky to observe and interact with leaders of amazing caliber. I’m always so curious about the “secret sauce” that keeps them forging ahead when challenges knock them down. Here are some of the themes that I’m noticing about resilient leaders that keep them coming back on behalf of our community:

Clarity
It’s my quest to fully express myself in everything I do, both at home and work, and I hope that in doing so I inspire the same for others. Strong community leaders operate at the intersection of their own personal passion and a deep organizational or community need. Not every job every day will operate at that intersection - sometimes you just need to get the task done. But when it comes to the bigger picture, these leaders are finding the place where their passion can solve a problem or fill a gap.

Hence, ingredient number one: Clear, compelling mission. Clarity on what you are most passionate about can be turned into positive action on behalf of others.

Perspective
It’s funny to me how so many people talk about their children, or their dogs, as a source of perspective. Sometimes a dog that closes a laptop with a paw or sits nearby, whimpering, leash in mouth, is the catalyst to get out of the daily grind. And sometimes stepping away from that laptop is the best way to see a new solution.

Success for many leaders is about much more than having vision - it’s being able to reach out and touch their mission frequently. These leaders actively seek opportunities to take the vantage point of the organizations or people they serve - real-life points of view that they can’t find in any policy paper or grant application. Eugene Sepulveda, CEO, Entrepreneur’s Foundation of Texas, for example, walked the streets of Haiti to help determine the best use of the relief funds he stewards. Pat Hayes, in addition to her tremendous community responsibilities, finds time to provide volunteer tax services. Earl Maxwell, CEO of the St. David’s Foundation, makes a point to visit and assist in their mobile dental clinics, handing out toothbrushes - the very first one for some kids.

Ingredient number two: Sleeve-rolling. Serving on the front lines changes the way these leaders understand community challenges and encounter opportunities one simply cannot see from the board room.

Celebration and Replenishment
Since the path to meaningful and sustainable change is long and complex, the biggest projects rarely have a definitive finish line. The leaders I admire set, notice, and celebrate clear milestones along the way - even if the outcomes achieved weren’t exactly what they had in mind. Frequent celebration prevents the “overload zone”, where the goal seems too big, too far, too high, creating bystanders out of even the most capable among us. It also helps keep morale high - for ourselves, and our teams. “I schedule team parties and personal  vacations well in advance” said Sylvia Acevedo, community leader extraordinaire, “it keeps us motivated and refreshed.”

Ingredient number three: Personal replenishment and anticipation of success. A positive mindset and willingness to acknowledge that even the little wins keep us going over the long haul.

The tools of leadership can be taught (find out about joining a Leadership Austin program) but the call to lead and the ability to sustain that path are much trickier to master.

The one thing that gives me clarity and perspective and replenishes me faster than anything is a conscious and daily habit of active appreciation. Every day I am grateful for the amazing leaders I meet throughout Austin, Texas. It is these community leaders who are fighting the good fight and working diligently to make Central Texas a better place for all of us to live.

I aspire to be more like them every day, and I challenge you to seek out what will get you to resist the couch tonight and engage with your community. And it’s totally okay if it’s just a walk with your dog.

April 2012 Engage - A Conversation with Austin's Mayoral Candidates

As the May 12 Austin mayoral race nears, we invited the candidates to join us in a conversation on the Dell Hall stage at the Long Center for the Performing Arts on April 3 for a special edition of the Engage breakfast series.

The Dell Hall Stage at the Long Center

We asked candidates Clay Dafoe, Lee Leffingwell and Brigid Shea, what will the hot issues be on May 12 and beyond? What leadership skills will be required of elected officials as Austin faces challenges over healthcare, education, transportation, water resources, and other issues? How can we get more citizens to their polling places? KXAN reporter Josh Hinkle served as moderator.

Dafoe

Leffingwell

Shea

On this post, you'll find highlights of the panelists' remarks, a full audio recording, results of our live, interactive audience poll, and links to resources and media coverage. We want to hear from you, too. What issues do you think the next mayor should address? What do you think we should do to get more voters to the polls?

Get out the Vote!
Travis County Clerk Dana DeBeauvoir gave a special presentation on voter registration. Voter turnout for Austin's mayoral and council races have been stunningly low over the years. In the last council race, only 7.4 percent of registered voters cast a ballot. Do your part to get out the vote. First, make voting in this election a personal priority. Second, urge your co-workers, friends, family and colleagues to vote! You have until April 12 to register for the May 12 mayoral election. For information and a list of early polling places visit http://www.co.travis.tx.us/county_clerk/election/default.asp.

The Candidates on Leadership
The candidates led off the conversation by discussing the leadership qualities an elected official should have. We tweeted a few of the highlights:

• Clay Dafoe
  "Integrity is the most important character of a leader."
  "Persistence is an important characteristic of a leader."
• Lee Leffingwell
  "A leader needs to be honest, a person of integrity and someone who is steady."
  "A good leader needs to listen to a lot of people. Not the voices you hear all the time in the activist community."
• Brigid Shea
  "A leader has to be able to ask tough questions."
  "A key leadership quality of an elected official is to be able to listen to people."

Resources and media links:

• Election and early voting info, voter registration, and polling places via the Travis County Clerk
• Clay Dafoe's election site
• Lee Leffingwell's election site
• Brigid Shea's election site

Audio:

Download this audio file (MP3)

Subscribe to the Leadership Austin Podcast via iTunes

Live polling results:

As always, many thanks to our presenting sponsor Capital One Bank. Special thanks to the Long Center for the Performing Arts for providing our venue space. And thanks to our other partners, KXAN News, Community Impact News, Sterling Affairs Catering and Events - and our mobile technology partner 44Doors.