The power of a telling photo is undeniable. This photo, especially, can almost take your breath away.
It tells a story of sameness giving way to new and different.
•Of a woman moving into a position only held by men.
•Of the first Black person to lead the office of The Dean of Wharton Business School in their 139-year history.
•Of Dean Erika James and the new face of leadership that will shape the future of the business world.
The tides are changing
As the tides change, we have seen a fuse of technologies stimulate the third and fourth industrial revolutions. Inevitably, women are projected to represent the changing face of leadership as the next revolution merges human experience, collaboration, data, and technology to create an era that prioritizes the improvement of social conditions to grow economies and sustain our planet.
My alma mater, Emory University - Goizueta Business School, blazed a trail by hiring Dean James in 2014, marking the first time a minority woman was selected to lead a full-time MBA program at a top-25 business school. In 2020, Wharton followed suit with Emory by making Dean James the first woman and person of color to lead the prestigious and frequently ranked among the top three business schools.
Recovery will take effort
As the world recovers from a double pandemic and revisits women’s rights issues such as #roevwade, I think it’s becoming clear that a new type of leadership–and the face that carries it forward–is necessary…and that it’s coming. The people and places that choose to get on board will see change and disruption. They will see people-centered and result-centered social and economic growth.
Some of it will be hard to sit through. Uncomfortable, even. But, history tells us that growth and disruption are nearly impossible without some discomfort. It also shouts loudly that yes, it’s worth it!
Innovative new leadership New leadership will simultaneously ask a lot of questions and provide a lot of answers. It will be strong and thoughtful. It will be decisive and disruptive. It will be innovative and inspirational. Most importantly, it will be human. In many cases, I hope it will be #woman. A picture truly is worth 1,000 words. On this #ThankfulThursday, I am grateful for the leadership of Dean Erika James. Thank you for pushing us forward and letting your innovative, disruptive results and compassionate humanity be at the helm of the change we need to see in the world. #ThankfulThursday #WomenLeaders #WomenWhoInspire #WomenInPower #WomenEmpoweringWomen #BeTheChange #FutureOfBusiness #LeadershipAtlantaBCE16