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.

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.