The Global Leadership League Blog

Say YES! In 2023

Tue, 31 Jan 2023 15:00:00 GMT

Can you smell it? Can you feel it? It is in the air and palpable here at the Global Leadership League… it smells and feels like new opportunities. With 2022 fading in the review mirror and the possibilities of this year ahead, we can’t help but ponder the professional engagement, events and meeting new and former colleagues we are sure to experience in 2023.

What are you looking forward to this year? What’s on your professional and personal development list, and how can you support colleagues and friends? What events, conferences and travels are already on your calendar that energizes you?

Part of what makes the start of a new year inspiring is the potential for new experiences. Here at the League, we have many exciting things in the works, and we can’t wait to share them with you all. AND! Part of what will make the coming year so powerful is your capability to say YES to new adventures and challenges. The coming year’s potential is just half of the equation- the other half depends on your ability to seize the opportunity and say yes.

So, what do you want to say yes to? A creative professional development course you’ve wanted to take? Making a commitment to connect with a colleague to exchange new ideas? That trip you’ve been planning for years now? These options and opportunities are really just ways of saying yes to yourself. Yes to your future, and yes to the potential of the coming year.

As you seek new networks, learning, and adventures to say yes to in 2023, we invite you to learn more about the programs we offer as well as our upcoming events. Maybe saying yes to a membership with the Global Leadership League is the push you need for a fantastic and fulfilling 2023.

Whatever adventures or challenges present themselves, we wish you a wonderful year full of yeses!

The mission of the Global Leadership League is to ignite change across the global education field by empowering, connecting, and training leaders. We invite you to reach out to us here or learn more about becoming a member.

A Letter From Our Directors

Fri, 30 Dec 2022 22:30:00 GMT

Dear Members:

Why did the educator sprinkle sugar on their pillow on New Year's Eve?.....

……. They wanted to start the year with sweet dreams.

Laughter and joy are excellent ways to manage tough times, and laughter is scientifically proven to reduce stress. With our often-chaotic work and personal lives, we could all use a bit more of that tonic! And let's add some sweet dreams too.

The Global Leadership League is also here to help you manage your complex lives. Five years ago, we started this organization as a way for us to become more connected in our profession, and we remain committed to giving you, our members, meaningful learning opportunities as you advance your careers. Yes, the global pandemic set our plans back a bit, but we are reviving ourselves along with others in the field. We owe our thanks to the amazing group of volunteers who not only founded The League but who help to run the programs for you.

The League has over 1000 members and a host of vibrant supporting organizations. Not unique to the League, our members live all over the world. In fact, we have members from 34 countries and counting. For that reason, we are innovative in the online space with opportunities to listen live or re-visit the recording. Our popular mentor circles allow for varying schedules. We continue to look for ways to meet these diverse needs.

As we crest 2023, we have a few things on our mind that we hope will motivate you to invite others to join and help grow this important initiative:

Are we focused on women? Yes, but NOT JUST. We are an organization committed to all global educators regardless of gender, and we hope to increase our range of members – at any level or stage of career.

Are we going to do in-person events? Yes, and SOON. As the global pandemic shifts, we are revisiting our plans for in-person workshops, retreats, and add-on networking opportunities for your major conferences.

Are we able to serve large and small organizations with personalized training? Yes, and NOW. Your organization can sign up as an Advocate or Supporter and easily get a membership for 10 + unlimited staff. This could mean less than $15/per person for access. Tell your leaders, colleagues and friends today about The League.

What do we need the most? We need YOU. Yes, your attendance at our programs will keep the conversation alive, but we also need your volunteer time to help us grow. Contact us at info@globalleadershipleague.org today to find out how to get involved.

Finally, where do we want to be in 2023? TOGETHER. Come to our New Year Hoopla next week and share some laughs, meet a new person, and consider where you want to be in 2023. We look forward to doing more for you and with you this new year.

All our best,

Cynthia Banks, Sarah E. Spencer, and the entire Global Leadership League leadership team

Happy Habits

Wed, 30 Nov 2022 18:18:39 GMT

Has anyone been immune to the impacts of COVID on both personal and professional lives? The Global Education sector and many others have been significantly affected by countless aspects of the pandemic and its far-reaching influence. However, for many people, these shifts have led to “happy habits.”

What new positive routine or happy habit have you formed over these past pandemic years? Maybe you’re better now at maintaining a positive work-life balance, staying engaged with friends and colleagues, listening to podcasts to hone your management skills, or committing to a daily walk. Whatever your new happy habit is, congratulations! The question now is, how can you maintain these positive changes moving forward into 2023? Developing a consistent routine can take time, commitment, and intention.

Here are four tips we wanted to share in the spirit of moving into the new year as the best global educators we can be:

Find an accountability buddy. Is there a colleague at work who can help keep you on track for leaving at a reasonable hour, so you’re home in time for dinner with the family every night? Or a friend who will meet you every week for Zoom Yoga or for a lap around the lake? Having someone else help hold you accountable can make all the difference in making your routine into a lasting habit.
Set yourself up for success. Whatever positive new habit you want to carry forward, make it as easy as possible for yourself to accomplish that task. Layout or pre-pack your gym bag the night before, set out your journal in an easily visible spot for you to access it, or factor in extra time for yourself so you do not feel the need to skip your new routine in an endeavor to save time.
Write it, draw it, or record it. Creating visual or audio support for your new happy habit can help keep you focused and motivated. Whether this looks like writing your goals down, tracking how many days you’ve kept it going, or leaving supportive messages to future you taped to your bathroom mirror – this tactical approach can help.
Don’t beat yourself up over a slip-up. Sometimes, life gets the best of us, and our days don’t go as planned. That’s okay! Don’t let a little slip-up get you down or derail you from sticking it out and moving forward. As we said earlier, new routines and habits take time, commitment, and intention.

Whatever new happy habit you have formed, keep going! Keep your focus on why you made this shift in the first place and what benefits it brings to your life. Think, why are you better off now with this new habit than you were before without it? And, if you can’t think of a new happy habit you’ve formed over the past few years, it’s never too late to start one. Cheers to being our best selves in the coming year!

The Impact of International Education

Mon, 31 Oct 2022 23:00:00 GMT

We LOVE global education! And, while global education is important every week of the year, we take special note of the importance of our field for International Education Week, which is November 14^th through the 18^th this month. Our field is one driven by passion, understanding, awareness, and collaboration, and International Education Week is a time to celebrate all those qualities.

To kick off the celebration of IEW week, we thought we would share some bite-sized stats about the good work being done in our field. Here are some quick stats around international education and studying abroad:
“During the 2019-2020 school year, approximately 1,075,496 foreign-born students were enrolled at U.S. colleges and universities, representing 4.6% of the total U.S. student population.” (Source)

“In the 2018-2019 school year, international students contributed a combined 39 billion to the economy and supported more than 400,000 jobs across the U.S.” (Source)

"1.46 million students from abroad were undertaking tertiary level studies across the EU in 2020.” (Source)

“In 2020, students from abroad who were studying in Germany accounted for 25% of the EU total; the next largest shares were 17% in France and 9% in the Netherlands.” (Source)

“In 2020, over 5.6 million students chose to reap the huge benefits of studying abroad. However, this figure is expected to hit nearly 8 million by 2025 if the current rate of growth continues.” (Source)

“Australia has the highest percentage of international students relative to its overall student body.” (Source)

And lastly, view this interactive map by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development showing international student mobility and the % of students enrolled in tertiary education in 2020.

The impact of COVID on our field was a devastating one. Between borders closing, universities halting activity, and the general air of uncertainty, the international education field took a destructive hit. However, numbers are looking encouraging, and we can just feel that the whole sector is posed for a strong comeback. What do you expect to see in the next year or so for global educators and study abroad programs? Do any of the shared statistics surprise you? Let us know!

Sources:

1. FWD.us. (2022, September 14). International Students & Graduates in the U.S. FWD.us. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://www.fwd.us/news/international-students/

2. Learning Mobility Statistics. EuroStat Statistics Explained. (2022, June). Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://ec.europa.eu/eurostat/statistics-explained/index.php?title=Learning_mobility_statistics

3. Studee Ltd. (2022). 10 most popular countries for international students. Most Popular Countries For International Students - Best Countries to Study Abroad. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://studee.com/guides/10-most-popular-countries-for-international-students/

4. Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development. (2022). Students - International Student Mobility - OECD data. theOECD. Retrieved November 7, 2022, from https://data.oecd.org/students/international-student-mobility.htm#indicator-chart

Dear Sophia...

Fri, 30 Sep 2022 22:00:00 GMT

If you are one of our members or even just a consistent reader/supporter of the League, you will be familiar with one of our newer programs, In the Vault. Our In the Vault program offers individuals “a safe place to ask candid questions.” These questions range from sticky workplace situations, uncomfortable dilemmas, and difficult conversations to advice on career progression and pushing yourself outside your comfort zone. When facing tough decisions, an outside opinion can make all the difference in revealing new truths to ourselves.

Our goal in creating In the Vault with Sophia Confidential was to provide a safe space for professionals (of all levels) to ask those candid questions we might otherwise hesitate to share. Additionally, we hope we have created a place for honest and beneficial answers by creating a place for honest and transparent questions. Because, as evident by this newer program, we believe seeking advice is a healthy step in working through difficult or uncomfortable situations. And we all know as working professionals, and even more explicitly working professionals in the international education field, complex or uncomfortable problems can arise. Honestly, this is almost unavoidable in any professional capacity.

The beauty of seeking outside counsel for a problematic situation is that new perspectives and ideas can help force us out of the same mental ruts we tend to fall back into repeatedly. Self-doubt, negative self-talk, and habits that no longer serve us can run rampant if not checked. Asking for advice and actively seeking the opinion of someone outside the situation can help us break out of these tricky traps, help us feel less isolated in dealing with the problem, and can help foster progress. Progress that might be desperately needed.

We hope the next time you find yourself in a challenging situation and are unsure of what to do, you practice the step of seeking outside advice. Maybe even more specifically, seeking the outside advice of our dear Sophia Confidential… we know she can’t wait to help advise on whatever dilemma you might throw at her! To read some of her past responses, visit here. To go ahead and submit your candid question in pursuit of a candid answer, visit here.

To Do or Not To Do – That is Always the Question

Tue, 30 Aug 2022 17:30:00 GMT

Have you ever been faced with a tough decision? Like, a decision where you honestly did not know what to choose? How did you end up reaching a conclusion? What helped push you one way over the other? Life is full of these decisions and what we could call 'forks in the road.' But, the beautiful thing is, the paths we end up choosing are what help shape and define our different stories.

Sometimes, when we are faced with tough decisions, making a choice can feel paralyzing and overwhelming, and it can be hard to think clearly about what you should do. Lately, or maybe more specifically over the last two years during the pandemic, most individuals in the global education sector have had to make difficult decisions. These decisions have varied from "should I continue to travel," "should I board that plane," "should I visit that country," or maybe even "should I consider switching my career path." These are all big questions that could be difficult to answer. So, when you are in a tough spot, how do you come to a conclusion?

The next time you struggle with a decision, there are a few concepts that can help you make a choice. A few of these ideas include:

Going with your gut – when you silence your mind, what is your gut reaction? Don't think, just say… what is it?
Head vs. heart – Is this a head decision or a heart decision? Which one is the part torn about the decision? Is your heart struggling or your head?
Who else will be impacted by this decision? Are you the only one who must deal with the outcome of this decision?
What advice would you give to someone else in your same position?
What is the worst-case scenario? What is the best-case scenario?

These are just a few outside perspectives to consider when facing a difficult decision. For further reading on the process of making a difficult decision, we recommend this article by Psyche or this article by Centerstone.

The international education industry inherently lends itself to tough decisions. Daily we have to consider numerous factors outside of our immediate surroundings and possibly even outside of our culture. So, when you are faced with a decision where you truly just don't know what to do, how do you approach it?

Level Up With The League

Fri, 29 Jul 2022 17:00:00 GMT

Well, we are officially over halfway through 2022… WOW! As we cruise into the second half of the year, now is a good time to ask yourself how you are going to make what remains of 2022 just as meaningful as the first half. Specifically, we want to know, when was the last time you made a concerted effort, or put yourself out there, in the name of your own professional development? It can be hard! And maybe even a little scary. But if you don’t advocate for yourself, who will? Deciding to advance your professional skills is step one. Step two… is how?

The Global Leadership League has you covered! The League offers numerous opportunities to connect with other professional peers, join in on industry relevant discussions, and have leaders from the global education field help guide you and offer their feedback. We want to spotlight a few of the different programs The League offers which could help you take your career to the next level and finish out the remainder of the year with some oomph:

Career Connections: Whether you're working on a presentation, looking for someone to brainstorm with outside of your organization, or just simply looking for some perspective, Career Connections is the place for you.

Career Connections is a members-only benefit that pairs experienced League members (Guides) with other members (Explorers) who want to learn from their expertise regarding a professional challenge, while both parties forge a meaningful professional relationship and expand their network. We aim to connect members who are active in a variety of fields including but not limited to:

· Education Abroad

· International Students & Scholars

· International Enrollment Management

· Campus Programming

· and more!

Coffee Connect: Join us monthly for a chance to learn more about the League! Grab a drink and join the Partnerships team to get a taste of what the League has to offer; this opportunity is open to all interested non-members and members.

There are 3 versions of this meeting:

1. In 'Learn about the League' we'll spend some time giving an overview of the League’s programs, provide a fun and topical ‘taster’ and enjoy the company of new colleagues. Plus, you will have time for Q&A.

2. In 'Mentor Highlight' we'll focus on our ever-popular Mentor Circles and Career Connections program; creating space to connect and provide brief information about joining the League to non-members.

3. In 'Senior Leader' we'll create time, space and support for Senior Leaders to connect with each other to discuss the most pressing topics facing the field, our organizations and teams.

We’ll meet online for 30 minutes the second Tuesday of the month at 1pm EST (USA).

The League Lasso: The League Lasso is a trusted space for members to inspire, create, and share their stories and writings with others. Members are invited to create a piece of writing. The genre is open to all forms of the writing enterprise. The writing piece can be of professional nature or a personal outlet. Submit your work prior and then discuss online as a group. We support each other! Here are few examples (as a source of inspiration, not limitation!):

· poem

· cover letter

· purpose statement for graduate school

· proposal for funding a new program

· letter to your congressional representative for advocacy

· short story

· letter to your high school senior before they leave for college

Mentor Circles: One of the cornerstones of a successful business model is collaboration. Whether around the table with colleagues from your own company or in a board room with professionals from around the field, there is value in bringing different perspectives to the table. The League understands the value of this process and recognizes that facilitating these conversations can take time and effort, so we’ve created Mentor Circles.

Take the opportunity to learn and grow with other professionals in international education on topics such as Blazing Your Career Trail and Designing a Well-Lived Life. Sessions commence three or four times a year, and groups are made up of 3-5 individuals per session. This is a members only benefit.

The Chat Box: Are you seeking colleagues who can relate to our new professional and personal realities? Has your employment situation unexpectedly changed? Are you eager to connect with new networks in the absence of conferences, work travel and your office?

Dial into The Chat Box! Join us for 60-minute discussion groups on Zoom that tackle ‘real-time, real-issue’ learning, empathizing and problem-solving with other League members, including:

· Leading and Managing in This New World

· The Virtual Professional

· My Career: Now & Future

· Taking Care of You

· What’s Next for Global Education

Chat Box programs are hosted and scheduled across three regions – Pacific Rim, Europe and the Americas – maximizing time zones and cross-cultural contexts.

Audio recordings, Top Takeaways and relevant League resources are available for Members after login.

The League is proud to offer these different opportunities to our members and we love being a part of the plan for people who are leveling up their professional development. Don’t wait, join The League now and make the most of the remainder of 2022 while you still can! Learn more about joining.

Dust-Off Those Networking Skills

Thu, 30 Jun 2022 14:30:00 GMT

We are starting to see a resurgence of conferences and expos for our industry again, and that means many of us are shaking the dust off of our blazers and breaking out our suitcases from the closet. Several of our League board members recently attended the NAFSA 2022 Conference and Expo in Denver, CO, and had a wonderful time. So, with COVID restrictions easing and several of us back at the networking endeavors, we thought now was a good time to share some tips for keeping our networking skills fresh and getting back into promoting ourselves and our organizations after a long hiatus.

1. Practice your intro/elevator pitch. Because it might have been a moment since the last time you had to run through your own introduction and organizational run-down, take a few moments to make sure you not only remember the highlights to hit but whatever updates or adjustments you might need to now include in our post-covid world.

2. Tap into your already established network and reach out to past contacts. You will likely be running into colleagues and friends at some of the upcoming conferences. Now could be an excellent time to follow up with them and see how they are doing and ask how they are adapting after a travel hiatus. Keeping your past contacts fresh can be just as important as the new ones you will be making while networking.

3. Meditation, affirmations, or journaling – whatever you do to find your power. With new networking opportunities come new possibilities of being in a room full of people you don’t know. And that can be nerve-wracking for anyone. Take some time to steel those nerves, find your center of self, and step into your power so that you may show up as the best you – however that may look.

4. Stock those business cards and prep your supporting branding items. Maybe you need to order more business cards or look for that tabletop sign you will need for a booth at a conference. Whatever it is, ensure that your supporting items are ready to go.

5. Self-care. We cannot stress this one enough! Do what you need to do to have yourself feeling and looking your best. Maybe that is a new haircut, an in-depth skincare routine, a new shirt, or a long workout right before heading to the networking event. Self-care looks different to everyone, so do what you need to do so that you may feel like you are showing up with your best foot forward.

These are just some of our ideas on how we can all shake off that COVID dust and get back into the swing of things. So, what do you do to prepare yourself for a new networking opportunity? Share with us on our social! Or, better yet, become a member of The League and participate in some of our upcoming events and networking opportunities.

Connecting, Inspiring, and Empowering Positive Change

Mon, 30 May 2022 17:00:00 GMT

Two years is a long time to work with your colleagues virtually, some of whom are truly like family, especially after experiencing hardship and challenge after challenge together. On the days you’ve been pushed to a limit you didn’t know you had, you want to hug them and only them. Two years is a long time to see your friends less often and your family less often. Two years is a long time for many of us to learn how to cope with (and question) the impacts of a global pandemic, loss, social injustice, the “new normal,” and change within ourselves, our families, jobs, and communities.

In November of 2019, I traveled to Australia for work, and I spent time with many colleagues that I had either never met in person or hadn’t seen in many years. We strategized and planned, and it was energizing; I couldn’t wait for what was next – seeing through our vision and plans for our study abroad students in 2020 in Australia, New Zealand, and Fiji.

Needless to say, 2020 didn’t go as planned, and a lot happened in the past two years. I won’t go into details (maybe in another blog), but I finally went to my first in-person event in Denver, Colorado, in March of 2022. Just one day after International Women’s Day, I attended Women Powering Change – an event that brings together leaders, activists, volunteers, community members, and philanthropists to showcase what women are doing to catalyze social change locally and globally to create a better world in more than 100 Colorado-based organizations.

So, I’ll admit it, maybe I was a bit giddy as I felt like a bear rising from a long covid winter (or two). This event was warm, inviting, inclusive, and accepting - and it smelled of fresh burritos available for dinner on a cold, snowy Colorado evening. What more could you ask for? I’ll tell you - to be in a community with others that are making a positive impact and care deeply about supporting the advancement of women. Capital Sisters International provides microloans for women in poverty, Dance to Free is a non-profit changing the lives of incarcerated women by addressing lifelong trauma through the healing power of dance, and Agile International works to secure land, water, and energy availability for rural women farmers in Western Africa.

While I wish I could have hugged my former colleagues through the numerous challenges we experienced in 2020 and 2021, two of the people I used to work with many years ago were in attendance at this same event and we were all there representing different organizations. We had no idea we would all be there, and we certainly didn’t know that we would be randomly placed right next to each other. But, it made the night even sweeter and reminded me that connections can turn into friendships that last forever.

Here’s to 2022 and beyond. May we continue to connect with one another, inspire, and empower – creating positive change. No matter how big or small, remember it is still change. Thank you to my friends with GALS and The Sacred Valley Project, once colleagues and now friends - I am so fortunate to have them forever.

Interview with Kris Holloway: Bringing Shores Beyond Shores to Life

Thu, 28 Apr 2022 21:30:00 GMT

Kris Holloway is a woman of many talents. Besides operating as the Global Leadership League’s Director of Programs, Kris “serves as the President of CIS Abroad, a leading education abroad organization whose vision is to create a more compassionate and connected world, one student at a time.” One of the many applications of Kris’ talents was her work in helping to document and compile the story of Irene Butter, a survivor of the Holocaust and a concentration camp, and the League’s presenter for our recent International Women’s Day 2022 event.

“Irene Butter spent a part of her childhood in Nazi-controlled concentration camps, where she survived horrible conditions and tragedies. She tells her story on behalf of the six million other Jews who have been permanently silenced. Irene's account celebrates the exercising of empathy for others in even the most inhumane conditions, a relevant message in an age where similar hatreds and discrimination rise once again.”

As a longtime friend and confidante of Irene’s, Kris knew that Irene’s story had to be documented and shared in a respectful manner. We recently sat down with Kris to learn more about how she went about the process of sharing another woman’s powerful story and what she feels she learned from the experience.

How does someone best go about writing a book for someone else and maintaining that respect and authenticity for their story?

I had experience because my first book I wrote about a West African midwife that I lived and worked with in the Peace Corps and how she died in childbirth. Because she died, I wrote her story and I knew that I had to tell the story of this midwife, and how she lived, in order for people here in the U.S. to care about her death. And so, prior to writing with Irene, I had experience with the responsibility I had writing as a white woman about a black West African woman. I thought a lot about this from a narrative ethnographic sense and also from a personal sense.

Irene asked me and my husband John to write her story. She had years of experience talking to middle school and high school students as she told of her journey through the Holocaust. And even though it was hard to talk about these memories of loss, her belief in the power of young people to change the world kept her energized. And, her one ask of us as writers was that we maintained the voice of the child in the narrative. She wanted to portray a hopeful message of “If I can do this, you can too. If I can be a survivor, you can too.” That was the guiding lens of how we wrote the book – staying true to her young voice.

What that looked like, in reality, is that the writing process was iterative. I developed character sketches so that each character in Irene’s story looked and behaved consistently to who they were. I had to know when Irene looks stressed, what does she do? When Irene talks, how does she sound? And, the book was written in English, even though Irene spoke German in her childhood, and then when her family went to Amsterdam she spoke solely in Dutch there, and then through the camps she continued speaking in Dutch, and then when she went to the refugee camp after the war, she spoke Dutch and learned English and French. So, I had to focus on how to stay true to her voice despite the change in language. To be trusted to tell a Holocaust survivor’s story felt really big. I felt the responsibility for grounding it in truth and fact.

Irene was amazingly brave as the writing opened up memories she had not known she had. My husband and I divvied up scenes to write based on our knowledge and interests. I would write a scene with our character sketches, and I would send it to Irene and then we would meet on Skype, and she would be like “Nope, nope, nope. That’s wrong.” She wouldn’t know what I got wrong until I wrote it wrong and then it would open up her memory to say, “Oh, now I remember. It wasn’t the smell of daffodils, it was crocuses…” or whatever the detailmight be. So, every time we wrote it would open up something else like this, and we would go back and forth in conversation. Then we would read it out loud so that Irene could feel that it was coming from within her. The bravery she had to be willing to see things that would have been easy to not see was incredible.

How do you balance deep diving into this heavy topic and maintaining your daily life with children, work, significant others, etc?

First, I scheduled the time as if it was a second job. I had goals and deadlines. So much of writing just showing up and doing the work. Over and over. It is not anything magical.

Second, and this is where there is a bit of magic, was around creating ritual to ground myself in the ‘Why.’ You can have discipline but be uninspired. So, to keep that inspiration, I would look at pictures of her family as they went through the Holocaust. I would listen to Enya, which is super cheesy but I just love Enya, so I would listen to her, light a candle, and look at photos of Irene’s family. I would ground myself in the reasons why I am going to spend two hours on a gorgeous 70 degree afternoon inside doing this work instead of outside with friends or family. So that created this space that is sort of sacred, kind of time-out-of -ime, so that I could maintain my energy for the work.

I think as international educators we are used to being committed to our work, and having to harness energy for it even during hard times. Hmmm… maybe like a pandemic that halts student mobility for two years! So, it was kind of just building on that same kind of energy that is resplendent in our field in many ways. This story is one of showcasing how we have got to work across all our perceived differences so that we can actually co-create a better world.

How can we incorporate Irene's message into our daily lives?

I think two things. One is to assume best intentions. unless we have a reason not to. Because there is so much that is hurtful, and we are all edgy coming out of the pandemic. Before we jump to escalate, and punish, and demonize, can we step in with some kindness? Can we assume best intentions before reacting to everything that we disagree with? Can we just have a little gentleness? Irene has taught me to just take a breath, don’t react, and just notice and listen. Then when I’m a little more grounded, be curious. And that has been so helpful for me.

Two, is the opposite. If we know there are bad intentions, like if we see bullying happen, we must simply show up. Sometimes there is a natural “look the other way” kind of response. Like it is someone else’s problem. The pandemic has been hard on humans, on families, on communities. If we see someone experiencing suffering, let’s stand with them. And this has kindness in it, but it is also a braver than just that. It involves risk. How can we expand the definition of who our brothers and sisters are and how can we intervene in order to prevent suffering? I think for your average person, if we can just make these small choices that take a little time and small dose of bravery, it makes a difference.

What was the hardest part for you about translating or helping to relay this story?

Probably the editing process. There were certain parts of her story that I found really interesting to learn about and write about, that through the editing process it was clear that the narrative was stronger without them. I think that was probably the hardest part – letting go of some of the writing and different scenes that I just loved.

And also, it just took a while, so took some patience with the process as I just wanted to get it out in the world. We so wanted her to be part of the book’s launch before she got too old. She’s 91! It was hard feeling that time crunch.

The blessing of it all was the closeness- Irene feels like my older sister. She feels like family and really, who gets that? Who gets to have a 91-year-old older sister when you are my age? It has been such a source of joy, even in the suffering of the story. That has been the biggest, most unexpected outcome of doing this project together. Then we had a reason to meet, and now we are not writing anymore but we keep meeting anyway. I go to Ann Arbor frequently, and Irene has just finished a podcast in German, she just appeared on Dutch news show, and has a CNN special- she is just going gang-busters. And, the book has been translated in Dutch, Portuguese, Czech, and will be out in German this summer. Sometimes I am involved in some of that and sometimes I just hear about it through her agent, and it is just fabulous and so much fun. I love riding her coattails. How fabulous and long the coattails are of this 5 ft 1 in woman.

What, if anything, did this project help show to you or reveal to you about working in international education?

How do we weave story into what we do? Whether that is literally using the book and her journey as an itinerary for faculty led program, or how we help our students make sense of their own experiences in another culture.

It made me realize the importance of expanding our definition of family and community across boundaries, meaning you’re responsible for me and I am responsible for you in some shared capacity, because if we can expand that, then it is much harder to invade, attack, or ignore the suffering of others. It made me appreciate my citizenship and think about what it means to have the privilege of having a country to call home, and to help those who don’t have this power or protection. It seems so similar to the reasons that we are in the international ed field to begin with, because otherwise, why would we be here?

The last thoughts I want to share are to give kudos to the individuals in the Global Leadership League- all the volunteers and participants who are keeping a safe space alive for people to come together in this field and continue to grow. Because that is how it is going to grow back and grow back better.

If you are interested in learning more about Irene Butter, her story, and the published book ‘Shores Beyond Shores: From Holocaust to Hope, My True Story’ join The League on 12 May, 2022, at 11:00 AM (EDT) for a virtual book discussion. Learn more here. As well, learn more about Kris’ organization, CISAbroad, here.

International Women's Day

Tue, 08 Mar 2022 16:00:00 GMT

Almost every month of the year has several days that recognize and celebrate various causes, organizations, or topics. Some of these days are serious, some are religious, and some are just fun ones (World Doughnut Day, anyone?).

One of the biggest celebrations that we mark in March is International Women's Day. This event is celebrated annually on March 8th, and this year has the theme of "Break the Bias." According to their official website, "International Women's Day is a global day celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. The day also marks a call to action for accelerating gender parity. Significant activity is witnessed worldwide as groups come together to celebrate women's achievements or rally for women's equality."

International Women's Day has a long history and has been celebrated for over a century, with its first recognition occurring in 1911 in Austria, Denmark, Germany, and Switzerland. It was later celebrated for the first time by the United Nations in 1975 but gained more considerable popularity with its re-energization in 2001.*

As part of our own celebration and recognition for this day, the Global Leadership League proudly hosted our event, The Difference You Make: A Conversation with a Holocaust Survivor. This event was an inspiring and moving virtual conversation with Dr. Irene Butter, a Holocaust survivor, and author. We were honored to host this event and to hold our own space in recognizing International Women's Day.

The concept of international days of recognition "predates the establishment of the United Nations"* and these occurrences are helpful to educate and inform people about different causes and global problems and celebrate various causal successes. Some of the most recognized international days include International Women's Day on March 8th, World Water Day on March 22nd, and International Day of Peace on September 21st. To peruse a comprehensive list of International Days of Celebration, visit this site hosted by the UNESCO Center for Peace. On this list, you will find days marking everything from Mother Earth Day (April 22nd) to International Day of Happiness (March 20th).

With so many days of the years dedicated to different causes and topics, it seems that there is a day relating to just about everyone. So, we wonder, if you were to add your own international day or recognition, what type of person or activity would you love to see celebrated each year? Let us know by sharing with us on our social media!

*About international women's day. International Women's Day. (n.d.). Retrieved March 4, 2022, from https://www.internationalwomensday.com/About

*Why do we mark international days? United Nations. (2020, April 21). Retrieved March 4, 2022, from https://www.unsecretariat.net/sections/observances/why-do-we-mark-international-days/index.html#:~:text=Who%20chooses%20them%20and%20how,General%20Assembly%20by%20Member%20States

Eight Questions Nonprofit Leaders Must Ask

Mon, 24 Jan 2022 18:00:00 GMT

By Sarah E. Spencer, The League’s Director of Global Strategy and Founder of OnPoint Global Strategies & Coaching shares her thoughts on

Eight Questions Nonprofit Leaders Must Ask

Consistent good leadership is an essential skill, one more important than ever in all workplaces – private, not-for-profit or government. Although this article focuses on nonprofit leadership, many of these questions apply to anyone already a leader, or aspiring to be one. The last two years with the global pandemic and social, political and economic turmoil, have tested our professional acumen, stress levels and maybe even our health.

In the nonprofit sector, the upheaval in employment and hence personal finances has impacted philanthropy. Volunteers may not have been available due to lockdowns, safety protocols or time available. Educators have somehow managed to move to online learning and empty campuses. Even your devoted employees energized by your organization’s mission may have unexpectedly left for remote work or more money, and it’s hard to recruit talented replacements.

This is a lot, even for the most experienced nonprofit leaders and professional colleagues. Take time to pause, grab a cup of tea or a glass of wine, and ask yourself the following eight questions to help reset your organization for success – and why not invite your leadership and diversity of professional colleagues to join in too?

Click here to continue reading...

MMS NorCal Coaching Collective offers coaching, tools and support for leaders and executives, health and wellness, improved relationships, as well as coaching for artists, nonprofit leaders, and more. Subscribe to receive its monthly newsletter.

Sarah E. Spencer is a consultant to the higher and global education sector and the Founder & Managing Director at OnPoint Global Strategies & Coaching. She is also a Professional Coach at the MMS NorCal Institute of Northern California and works with non-profit leaders, professionals and teams who find themselves at crossroads or want to improve their leadership acumen. She is also a founding board member and director of global strategy for the Global Leadership League.

The Taco Bar is Open

Thu, 30 Dec 2021 17:00:00 GMT

By Dana Tottenham

dtotten@emory.edu

Director, League Lasso Writer’s Circle
Ed.D. Student, The University of Texas at Austin On Educational Leave, Emory University

One of the rituals when I fly from my home in Atlanta to my hometown of Austin is heading straight to El Arroyo (translated the Ditch). This Tex-Mex restaurant, built over a limestone ravine, has an infamous billboard out front. Over the decades, these billboard signs have become folklore in Austin: witty sayings, political statements, and signs of the times.

El Arroyo always says it best, “It’s OK if you fall apart. Sometimes tacos fall apart, and we still love them."

The field of international education has fallen apart. But here in the League, we love things that fall apart, because through the harness of leadership, we can join forces and put something even more magical back together. Whether you are asking Sophia something confidential or meeting new people in a Mentoring Circle, the League is like a taco bar. There is something for everyone.

I had to make an incredibly difficult decision in early spring 2021 to leave my beloved position in the field. As a working mom amidst a global pandemic, it simply was unsustainable to keep going, and I literally fell apart. I am grateful that I was already a League member. Although I had left my day job and sense of identity as an international educator, I still had an anchor in the field. The League became my comfort food- the biggest bowl of Queso that you can imagine drinking from.

During this year, I had the honor of launching the inaugural League Lasso Writer’s Circle. League members from across the globe- from the United States to Spain to India- zoomed together to share their stories. Late in the evenings, we read out loud a piece of our souls, from personal essays of pandemic trauma to book chapters waiting to be published to professional bio statements edited for university websites.

The Taco Bar of 2022 is officially open. The League is on the Rise. Grab a tortilla (or a rita), strap your vaccines in, and let’s enjoy the masked-up ride.

A Time For Reflection

Tue, 30 Nov 2021 17:00:00 GMT

Where o where has 2021 gone?! If you are anything like us here at The League, it feels like this past year has flown by! We can’t believe that we are preparing to wrap up 2021 and turn our focus towards 2022. While many of us are still coming to terms with the past year (including the impact of COVID and the uncertainty of so many details for the future), we felt now is as good a time as any to take a moment for some reflection.

The holidays tend to be a period when most people spend more time with family, gather around the table together, and (hopefully) have a few days off here or there. Moments like this tend to bring to the surface many memories, including those of past holidays, thoughts of loved ones, and rumination on the past. We encourage you to use this time of the year to take your own pause for some reflection. Pour yourself a cup of your favorite warm beverage, find a comfy spot to settle into, and take a moment to deep dive into your past year of highs and maybe even a few lows. Here are a few ideas for you to help create some space for reflection:

1. Take time to journal: What have you accomplished this past year? What did you not accomplish but had hoped to? What was the biggest obstacle you faced? What was your happiest moment of the past year? What was your saddest? Spend some time with your thoughts and memories and write them down.

2. Look back through photos: In today’s age of technology, most of us take and store more pictures than ever before. Take some time to scroll through your social media over the past year, appreciating the images captured and the ideas you shared. Or, if you are not a big social media person, chances are you have created a feed of memories on your cell phone’s photo storage. Take a walk down memory lane looking at these images- pondering where you were, who you were with, and how you felt at that moment.

3. Flip back through your calendar: We all (almost all?) keep a log of our recent history. For some of us, that might be in the form of a digital calendar somewhere, and for others, it might still be in a physical paper calendar. By flipping back through the past months and looking at the different appointments you have set or the events marked down, these will act as the perfect prompts for reflection on all you have faced, handled, and accomplished.

4. Read through some notes: Again, everyone’s paper trail will look different, but we are sure most of us here have one. Whether it is in the form of a journal or diary that you keep, or even in the emails that you have sent, take some time to look back through your past correspondence- even if it is just with yourself in your own notebook. How did you feel at that moment? What was the entry or email in regards to? Was it something significant in your world at the time or something that was simply a part of your daily to-do list?

There are several ways we can all create a space of reflection for ourselves. Before we officially wrap up 2021 (hello, New Year’s Eve 2022, we see you!), we highly encourage everyone to take a moment to pause and explore how this past year has felt, both in the highs and the lows. In a

year that has seemed to have flown past in the blink of an eye, we are sure there are several sweet moments to be cherished. Happy reflecting!

Why Mentor Circles are a great investment for you!

Thu, 28 Oct 2021 23:30:00 GMT

When we launched The League, one of the top professional wishes was mentoring. Many colleagues didn’t know how to find a mentor, especially if their networks were limited, and we created one of our flagship programs for members. Mentor Circles provides a small group the chance to engage with others about varying topics- conversations they might not otherwise consider with participants they might otherwise not encounter. This cornerstone of collaboration and conversation is part of what makes this program so powerful and successful. You might even recall, we shared a blog by League Outcomes Coordinator Lisa Brancheau about our Mentor Circles back in February. Now we hear from participants below.

We spoke with a few participants from our past mentor circles who were excited to share some of the reasons they found this program so rewarding and what drove them to participate in it several times over! So, we asked: Why did they participate? What was the best part? What advice would they offer others? And, what was the biggest takeaway for them? While we here at The League might feel the benefits of mentor circles are apparent, we thought it is important to share these perspectives with others who might not be clear on what a mentor circle is or how it can help them professionally.

The responses to “What made you want to join a mentor circle?” really hit home on just why we think this program can be so valuable for global education professionals. Our participants shared:

“I joined a Mentor Circle on a quest for deeper, intentional career introspection. I was seeking an opportunity that would challenge me to consider my potential professional outlook through guided conversation with other international education colleagues.”

“I can’t remember why I joined the first time (in 2016 or so?), but I was impressed with the women who created The League and thought, why not! Since then, I’ve kept coming back and participating in the Mentoring Circles almost every cycle because I get a lot out of it, and it is not a big commitment. I have met some wonderful people (women mostly), made some good connections, and learned a lot about people and the International Education field.

I even joined a “Career Connections” mentoring relationship and have made a very good friend from it!”

When asked about the best part of Mentor Circles, their answers were about learning from others’ perspectives and experiences. These connections are really at the heart of what makes this program so impactful, and we are thrilled this effect is prominent within sessions and its outcomes.

“The absolute best part of the Mentor Circles is the opportunity to connect with other female international education colleagues. The diversity of experience and perspective lent itself to generating rich conversations, which positively impacted my own personal career self-reflection.”

“It is easy to do, and I have learned so much about different parts of our broad field of International Education and people from different geographic parts of the world. It allows me to travel (virtually) and learn about different perspectives and points of view.”

We know not everyone might be sold on the idea of Mentor Circles and their positive impact, so we asked our participants what advice they would offer to others thinking about participating in these groups?

“It is so easy to do and takes so little time, but the rewards are great. The mentor circle coordinators have done a very good job of matching people according to their interests and what stage of their career they are in.”

“Opening oneself up to vulnerability both internally and externally can be a challenge. The Mentoring Circles are a safe space to have open, honest, difficult, yet constructive conversations that ultimately yield tremendous career clarity. Joining a Mentoring Circle is easily one of the best decisions I made for reinvesting in myself and others.”

Lastly, and maybe most importantly, we asked participants what their biggest takeaway was from Mentor Circles.

“My biggest takeaway was expanding my network to include some of the sharpest and caring individuals looking to elevate themselves and their colleagues. The incredible people in my Mentoring Circle serve as champions and cheerleaders for one another’s success. There are simply no words to describe the high level of empathy, support, and uplift I received from these amazing women.”

“Joining the Mentor circles has been enriching both personally and professionally! It’s not so much (for me) about the topic of the conversation, whether it’s “negotiation” or “Blazing your career trail” or something else. It is more about meeting and sharing and learning from and mentoring people who value similar things but who may come at it from slightly different perspectives. It is a very supportive and encouraging environment.”

If you have been on the fence about joining our Mentor Circles program, or have seen our promotions for it but never considered being a part of it, consider this your sign to join! We would love to have you, and we know you will walk away from it with experiences, professional growth, and learning opportunities you might not have otherwise encountered.

We want to extend a BIG thank you to those who participated for taking the time to share their experiences and insights about Mentor Circles with us!

Learn more and join our next round of Mentor Circles here.

Are you taking the time to propel your career forward?

Wed, 29 Sep 2021 23:00:00 GMT

While things may not be back to the same, most of us have more than likely acclimated to our new normal by now. For many of us, this new normal may look like working from home full-time or part-time, having the kids home either full-time or part-time or maybe even a completely new job and career. Whatever your recently found day-to-day looks like, we want to ask: are you still taking the time to focus on the forward movement of your career? We know this can feel like an additional burden to carry when you are working hard to just keep your head above water. But we promise, keeping this in consideration could potentially lighten your other workplace burdens.

If you were to take just 30 minutes to 1 hour a week to devote solely to your professional development, what would you do with this time? There are lots of actions that could provide tremendous results for your professional development. So, let’s talk long-term thinking here for the sake of your career…

1. Schedule a 30-minute coffee with someone new every week. This could be a key stakeholder for you, a power partner, or even your employees. You never know where sitting down with someone new once a week could take you.

2. Take time to organize your calendar- and stick to it! How often have you thought, “How could I improve my time-management skills?” Taking the time to manage your time and calendar for the week could be the perfect first step in taking back your time management.

3. Attend one professional event a week. Again- this can only be for one hour per week. But taking this step to show up and engage with other professionals consistently could potentially open many doors of opportunity.

4. Talk strategy, mission, engagement goals, etc., with an employee once a week. So many employees feel they are just a cog in the machine and that their ideas are not heard or respected. If you took the time to talk strategy with a different employee every week, who knows what it could do for not only your workplace culture but the forward movement of your organization as a whole.

5. Take time to write down your goals and ideas. By giving these thoughts and feelings a place to live, it will be much easier to come back and look at them, or even take action on them, than continually thinking to yourself, “What was that good idea again?”

We know that sometimes this can feel like the last thing you want to do- especially when the kids need help, there is always a pile of laundry or dishes somewhere waiting to be done, and you are probably just all around tired from the other demands of life. But, setting aside this time for yourself to dream big and plan long-term could be the propelling force to move you into the direction you want to go- be that for you personally or for your organization as a whole.

So, we ask you again, if you were going to set aside just 30 minutes (or an hour!) each week to strategize the big picture, what would you do with that time?

The Concept of Community: A Featured Blog by League Volunteer, Venkata Madhuri Gunti

Fri, 27 Aug 2021 16:30:00 GMT

Here at the Global Leadership League, we focus heavily on the concept of community in our Chat Boxes, blogs, LimeLight Interviews, and association programs. And, as we all know, there are all different forms of community and all different types of communities out there. The beautiful thing about communities is that they cross all boundaries- they are not gender specific, socio-economic specific, or even culturally specific. In our latest blog, we are delighted to share the story of a member of our own League community, Venkata Madhuri Gunti.

Madhuri comes from Hyderabad, India, and has 11 years of experience in the field of International Education. As a child, she had the opportunity to study and grow up in different states across India, as well as the chance to travel to various countries like Turkey, South Africa, Morocco, and the United States for work. This global exposure helped Madhuri gain a deeper knowledge and understanding about the true value of studying abroad and importance of cross-cultural experiences.

Working with study abroad students and teaching Intercultural Communication Leadership has helped Madhuri to be adaptable, inclusive, and accepting towards different people, cultures, and communities. The passion to work with different people has led her to volunteer for the Global Leadership League, The Forum for Education Abroad, and AAC&U during lockdown.

When Madhuri is not working she is busy blogging, running, cycling, singing, gardening, cooking and trekking! We are fortunate she has taken the time to volunteer with us here at the League and to share her story.

"No disability or dictionary out there, is capable of clearly defining who we are as a person."

Robert M Hensel

“It’s Never Late to Learn.” I always admire this quote as it keeps me hungry to learn new things in life. Learning can be any information or can be about yourself. My twin sister and I were born with a congenital facial paralysis. It is a rare congenital neurological condition which primarily affects the muscles that controls the facial expressions and complete eye closure. It is considered as one of the Rare Disorders (RD) - basically there are more than 7,000 Rare Disorders observed in the world. Recently, I found out that this condition nearly matches with a Rare Disorder called Moebius Syndrome (MS), but we do not fall under that as we do not meet all the criteria which defines the Syndrome, thus it is still considered as congenital facial paralysis.

Out of curiosity, I contacted Dr. Kathleen Boghart, who is a successful academic and TEDx Speaker, Health Psychology professor, and part of the Moebius Syndrome Foundation (MSF), and Ms. Vicki McCarrell, Co-founder of the MSF, to learn about the syndrome and the foundation. They welcomed me into the MSF family and accepted my interest to volunteer with them in the future. I want to create awareness and provide, above all, emotional and psychological support to the affected individuals and families in India and abroad. I was surprised to learn that there are 4-5 people excluding us in India who are affected with this particular type of Rare Disorders.

What does MSF do ?

The mission of the Moebius Syndrome Foundation is to provide information and support to individuals with Moebius syndrome and their families, promote greater awareness and understanding of Moebius syndrome, and to advocate for scientific research to advance the diagnosis and treatment of Moebius syndrome and its associated conditions.

Fortunately, my sister and I were blessed to born into a family where we were surrounded with loving and caring parents, siblings, family, and friends who never let us feel that we were different from others. This is one of the reasons I never took an interest to learn about this Rare Disorder in the past. Despite this abundant love, we did face a lot of issues in our childhood, in school, and college. Typically, strangers and people meeting us for the first time, do not know how to react or do not know what a Rare Disorder is. Always that strange look given by some people hurts because they are uneducated and it is impossible to explain to them what it is and they are surprised when they learn this type of Rare Disorder exists.

Some show empathy and others sympathy. My sister and I have also faced major difficulty during our careers and marriage. Coming from an Indian society where most of the marriages were/are arranged, my parents faced a lot of challenges to find us a life partner who can understand about this Rare Disorder and can accept us the way we are. Many rejected and some were ready to marry only if we agreed to pay a huge dowry, for which I never agreed.

My father, who was my pillar of strength and my mentor, always motivated us to be financially independent and that has made me a strong independent woman who is not ready to give up her choices and freedom just for the sake of marriage. My sister got married and has two beautiful daughters who are the proof that this Rare Disorder is not genetic and that it may or may not pass to the next generation. I have little knowledge about scientific research in this area, but will provide emotional support to the needy as I can totally understand and relate to the pain they have gone through or are undergoing.

I am not sure if any serious research or diagnosis is done in India, or maybe I am not aware of it. After learning about MSF in USA, I am happy to be part of their research & want to work closely with them to spread awareness and to support people by sharing my experiences.

I want to advocate for individuals with any kind of disability especially women in India who are shy and afraid to stand up for themselves or are worried about being defamed. Raise your voice, love yourself and stand for yourself, the rest will fall in place.

Believe in yourself and stay safe,

Madhuri

Global Leadership League members, what are you passionate about? What have you found an unexpected community in your life? Share with us on our social media!

Leadership Lessons We Can All Learn From Olympians

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 17:00:00 GMT

At the time of writing this blog, the 2021 Olympics are currently in full swing in Tokyo. It is an exciting time of competition, dedication, and patriotism. There is something so electric about watching these athletes compete in their chosen fields, at the height of their prowess, and under our country’s flag.

Be your best self. When these Olympians step up to compete in their fields, they are all truly bringing their A game to the table. The have dedicated their lives to preparing for this exact moment, and you better believe they have done everything in their power to be completely ready. We can do the same in our lives for whatever challenges present themselves to us. Train, practice, and prepare so that when you are called upon to rise to the challenge, you are completely ready to do so.
Be a team player. We are sure you are familiar with the old saying “There is no I in team.” This is true for leadership as well. Even the Olympians who compete in individual sports have a whole team who have supported them, backed them, and helped them get to where they are today. Remember this when you are in a leadership position and it feels like it is all on your shoulders. There are people around you who can help, and who probably want to help. Use your resources and rely on the people who can support you and help you be a better leader.
Put in the work. Show up. Showing up can be the hardest part of just about anything- be relentless in your commitment to showing up. Take the time needed for whatever task you’re faced with and put. in. the. work. It won’t always be easy, but leaders put in the work when necessary and don’t cut corners. We’re sure that Olympians are not cutting any corners in their training and that is what has propelled them to the top of their fields.
Keep your eyes on the prize. Everyone will experience setbacks at some point in their career. But, just like Olympic athletes do, dusting yourself off and recovering as best as you can is what counts. Remember what you are working for, and towards, and what set you on this path in the first place. Hold this passion, and the fire in your stomach that propelled you to this point, close to your heart. When you have trials or setbacks, tap into this passion.
Not being okay is okay. Simone Biles recently set THE example for this. While we live in a world that values physical output, none of that is possible without our mental health being in order. Taking care of your mental health can be just as important as your physical health. And, if you need a breather, do not be afraid to step away.
Stay hydrated. This one is pretty simple. As humans, our bodies are 60% water. Drink more water!

The Olympics are an exciting time, and we are thrilled to see all of these talented athletes getting to compete after the delay caused by COVID. Have you been watching the Olympics? What is your favorite sport to watch? Let us know on our social!

Moving Forward Through Transformative Change

Mon, 28 Jun 2021 17:30:00 GMT

It is impossible to experience all that we as a collective society, and world, have experienced over the past year and a half and expect to move forward into the future unchanged. So much has shifted, and so much has been put into perspective. We can feel the transformations that have occurred across our personal lives and our professional lives. So many of us live in “new normals” – realities we would have never before thought possible or in our futures. But here we are. In reflecting over the past year, we find that it begs the question: of these changes, what will we carry forward? Of these changes, what are we excited to carry forward?

In examining this question, we sought input from two of our beloved Executive Board members, Martha Johnson and Malaika Marable Serrano.

In sharing her thoughts with us, Martha focused on the transformative impacts of the Higher Education industry. She writes:

“In his play Angels in America, the playwright Tony Kushner states, ‘In this world, there is a kind of painful progress. Longing for what we’ve left behind and dreaming ahead.’ I think that describes where we are in higher education right now. We were pushed into virtual modalities for the wrong reasons, yet there will be no going back, and the way we deliver education will be transformed. As we return to campus life, we will hopefully look for the best ways to integrate what we have learned into how we move forward. As campus leaders focus on returning to ‘normal,’ I hope they can reflect on the positive dimensions of the ‘painful progress’ and transformation forced upon us.”

Malaika had a very personal perspective to share with us about the transformative impacts she and her peers are currently experiencing:

“This is a deeply personal issue because it is happening for me in real-time currently. One of the largest transformative effects I am seeing is on the people themselves. I am currently segueing out of international education and into another industry- education technology. I have seen a number of my peers and people I know transitioning out of the field and into related fields or even other industries completely outside of education. I believe that the effects of the pandemic have made folks reflect deeply on who they are, what their priorities are, their families, and not being afraid to take a leap of faith and make decisions around their careers that pre-COVID might not have been considered. It may be too soon to tell, but I wonder how the pandemic will have a lasting effect on the new cohorts coming into international education? What about the institutional experience and memories of the folks who have left the field? Can organizations be a bridge or a continuation for folks who are moving, flowing in and out of international education? I think the answer is yes. One wonderful transformative effect from COVID I have seen is that with technology, and folks embracing it, it is easier than ever to stay connected, and connectivity is amplified.”

What transformative changes stemming from the pandemic will you carry forward with you? Do you believe these changes to be positive or negative? One thing we believe is that these changes are what you make of them. We can use them as forces for positive movement forward or use them as forces for negativity and bitterness towards this experience. The choice is yours.

How To Tap Back Into Your Travel Swagger

Tue, 25 May 2021 19:00:00 GMT

As COVID restrictions ease around the world, there are many of us that still are not sure when or how to travel- or if we should be at all. Some of us have been vaccinated, some of us have not been. But chances are ALL of us are itching to hug our loved ones located a plane ride away. So, as we all slowly ease back into traveling, here are a few thoughts we want to share to help us all get back into our travel swagger.

First of all, if you are thinking of traveling, it is strongly recommended that you check local government restrictions, rules, and safety measures related to COVID-19. Before you depart, take some time to do your research and make sure that you are fully equipped and knowledgeable as to how the pandemic is being handled in your destination location. Here is an informative article from Travel and Leisure about Countries That Are Open to COVID-19 Vaccinated Travelers. For our stateside readers, here are the guidelines from the CDC for both vaccinated and unvaccinated travelers. As well, check out this article from the Mayo Clinic sharing safe travel advice in regards to COVID-19.

After you have done the basic travel research, you might tap into a few of these suggestions as well:

Get some really good earphones so you can tune out and literally tune in to something to calm your soul and take your mind off of the environment around you. Be sure to charge them if they need charging. And if you haven’t yet splurged on noise cancelling… now might be the perfect post-covid gift to yourself.

Get a chain to hang your mask around your neck because you have so much luggage and stuff you might just drop your favorite one and never see it again. Or pack more than one and stuff them in all the right pockets of your bag.

Plane pillows can be great to snuggle against that window or prop between the seats. You might also just hug it for comfort since you can’t really eat or use your hands.

And since you might be a little anxious with all those people around you… you can even try a soft eyeshade to block it all out.

Pack extra breath mints because you’ll be in a mask for potentially 8+ hours and you will want to smell fresh inside that mask. No one likes stale breath, including your own!

Re-check your version of “pack light” as you may have forgot all those travel tricks you used to use. A favorite of friends is to lay out what you would like to take and then cut it in ½ and yes… that includes shoes. Or remind yourself what it’s like to carry around 50 lbs. by filling your bag to that level and walking around your house. Wheels or not… it’s still a pain.

Shoes matter – you haven’t been outside of your slippers for about 18 months so don’t forget that you will be walking for hours in airports etc. Be sure you are in the right footwear and bring a Band-Aid or two in case your fashion sense won over your common sense.

Smile with your eyes – if we have learned one thing during this pandemic, it is to learn to smile with your eyes. Give that weary flight attendant a nice eye-smile as you can be certain their day is MUCH longer than yours.

While we all have been cleaning our hands obsessively and avoiding large crowds for over a year now, many of us are starting to plan our reentry into society. This is both an exciting and, for some of us, an anxiety inducing prospect. How do you plan on getting back into your travel groove?

Will you be traveling soon? What steps would you add to our suggestions above in creating a safe travel space for both your comfort and the others around you?

5 Ways to Travel Without Leaving the Comfort of Your Couch

Wed, 28 Apr 2021 21:30:00 GMT

Are you dreaming of airplane food, limited legroom, and the subtle dance of jockeying for the center armrest? Can you practically smell the recently stamped ink in your passport? If you are like so many of us here at the Global Leadership League, the call of foreign lands has been beckoning, and you have been itching to get back to traveling. While hopping on a plane might not be in the too near future still, we want to share a few ways for you to satiate your travel craving while never leaving the comfort of your couch. Here are some of our ideas…

1. Travel movies and videos. The internet is full of streaming options for accessing different travel videos, documentaries, and movies. Dim the lights, prep your favorite snack, and be prepared to be whisked away to another land. If you need a jumping-off point, here is an article showcasing 23 fresh international films for your viewing pleasure. Additionally, for our fellow Netflix fanatics, check out this list.

2. Travel books. Books have always been a beloved source for helping us all escape the restrictions and restraints of reality. Now, in the modern era of the COVID pandemic, this outlet has become even more useful and cherished. No matter where you are or what you are doing, with the few turns of a page, you can find yourself in a different country, decade, or even reality. If you are looking for books specifically to inspire your wanderlust (or to satisfy your wanderlust), here are a few resources to check out. From the UK Wanderlust publisher, The Best Travel Books of 2020. From Travel and Leisure magazine, 21 Best Travel Books to Inspire Wanderlust. And lastly, from the Smithsonian, The Ten Best Books About Travel of 2020.

3. Cooking and cooking classes. Nothing can conjure up memories and dreams of faraway lands quite like the smells of a delicious dish of food being prepared. Whether you decide to whip up something you've been making for a while or decide to challenge yourself with something new, the kitchen can be one of the best vessels for satiating your desire to travel. While this endeavor might require some stops at different grocery markets, that is all a part of the journey. Here is a website offering live international cooking classes virtually. As well, this article offers a few different ways to access different foods and culinary classes through the comfort of your own home. Or, if you are looking for a more hands-on approach to international cuisine without packing your suitcase, consider looking up local culinary schools that offer either in-person or virtual classes.

4. Take a virtual museum tour. Skip the lines and save yourself from the inevitable jostling for a good view of that classic piece of art. There are SO many museums that now offer virtual tours that you can be transported to just about anywhere in the world with the click of a button. Whether it is the Grand Palais in Paris, France, the Hermitage Museum in Saint Petersburg, Russia, or the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, New York, all are waiting to be explored without you ever having to change out of your pajamas. This article offers an incredibly comprehensive list of museums and their offered tours.

5. Start planning your next excursion. No need to whip out the credit card just yet. Planning your next vacation can be just (about) as exciting as actually going on the vacation itself. Indulge your daydreams and see where you would have to fly into to get to that safari retreat. Learn where you would have to catch your boat for that floating tour of the Seine. Or, pick out the perfect café to finish your walking tour of Buenos Aires at. All of these activities can help you feel like you are traveling and exploring new areas of the world. Then, one day soon, when we can safely hop on those international flights again, you will have all the details set and ready to be booked. Looking for a little more structure to planning your next trip? Check out this article of the 7 Best Trip Planner Apps for Travelers.

We all honestly hope that the days of safe and healthy international travel are not too far off. But, for now, getting creative with the opportunities available from the comfort of our homes will have to do. What would you add to our list? What other ways have you staved off the wanderlust itch this past year? We hope you enjoy a few of these ideas listed and happy (virtual) traveling!

Transformative: A Blog Series, Part 3

Fri, 26 Mar 2021 20:30:00 GMT

The Transformation Of Our Health

It is no secret that the COVID 19 pandemic has had a significant impact on people's stress and mental health. This impact has translated to increased anxiety, depression, trouble sleeping, trouble eating, weight gain, inflammation of preexisting chronic conditions, and increased substance abuse. 4 out of 10 Americans* now say they have experienced either anxiety or depression, up from 1 in 10 prior to 2020. 61% of adults* claim they have experienced unwanted weight changes since the start of the pandemic. And our younger counterparts (18-24 yrs), well, they too have had a tough go of it, with 56% of them reporting symptoms of anxiety and depression disorder due to the closures of universities and schools and loss of income or employment.

Needless to say, the impacts of the pandemic are not a frivolous matter when it comes to our health. In our opinion, it has become even more crucial that we take care of ourselves AND each other right now. The pandemic will eventually recede, but our bodies, brains, and health are all things we will still have with us long after the crush of COVID has begun to fade.

If you have been following our blogs over the last several months, you know that we have selected the word Transformative as our theme for 2020-21. While the negative transformative impacts of the pandemic on our health are glaring, we also believe that there are a few positive impacts as well. . One of these positive effects is that it has provided us an opportunity to slow down and bring our well-being into focus. More people have had to stop and think about their health and wellness, where they are going with it, and what they should be doing to improve it. Additionally, the recent rollout of the COVID vaccine has stimulated many conversations about health and the role scientific developments play within this arena. This attention, and these conversations, might be one of the few positive transformative impacts we see.

While people are more conscientious about washing hands, maintaining space, and cutting out needless large gatherings, there are additional steps to consider for positive transformative impacts on our health. Some of these could be: taking more walks or trying new exercise routines, spending more time in meditation or journaling, connecting with just one friend or family member every day, adding gratitude moments in your journals, finding new creative outlets, preparing meals that uplift your mind and soul, and addressing your real feelings head-on by seeking additional support with life coaches, counselors, clergy etc. as needed. If you have specific methods for maintaining positive health, feel free to share a post on the League Facebook or LinkedIn page.

Our hearts break for the families and loved ones who have been impacted by this pandemic. There is mental and physical stress for everyone in our worldwide communities. If you are interested in positively transforming your community's health, see our blog 7 Ways to Give Back to Your Community Today! here. Overall, we hope this year is a time of positive transformative behaviors in your own health and well-being.

* American Psychological Association. (2021, March 11). One year later, a new wave of pandemic health concerns. http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/stress/2021/one-year-pandemic-stress

* Kamal, R., Panchal, N., Cox, C., & Garfield, R. (2021, February 10). The implications of Covid-19 for mental health and substance use. Retrieved March 30, 2021, from https://www.kff.org/coronavirus-covid-19/issue-brief/the-implications-of-covid-19-for-mental-health-and-substance-use/

League Members Find New Value in Mentor Circles During Pandemic

Thu, 18 Feb 2021 19:30:00 GMT

By: Lisa Brancheau, League Outcomes Coordinator

Mentor Circles have long been a cornerstone of Global Leadership League programming. Groups of 3-4 professionals are matched to meet virtually once a month for four months while working through GLL-tailored content on a specific theme (Leadership, Negotiation, etc.). Reviewing participant feedback from the last three rounds of Mentor Circles, the Circles took on new meaning during the pandemic as one of the few remaining ways "to connect with other women and support each other in our ongoing journey as we way find," said one participant.

As the pandemic spread globally, working from home became the norm, and the in-person networking opportunities that conferences and meetups provide were no longer possible. Based on responses to the Mentor Circle evaluations before and during the pandemic, there was a 14% increase in how useful the participants found Mentor Circle conversations—especially having a safe, confidential space to discuss the changes going on in the world. "The strengths were connecting with other women who hold a variety of perspectives due to their diverse backgrounds. It was really helpful to hear their experiences navigating the global pandemic, and that component really made me feel like we formed a stronger bond than we would have during a typical networking event or program. I truly appreciate the opportunity," shared another participant in the anonymous evaluation.

The League also recorded a 12% increase in those who would recommend the Mentor Circle program to others. This is just one comment of many that highlighted the strength of Mentor Circles; that you can connect with people you may not otherwise meet, "I think the connections you make with others in the field that you may not have connected with otherwise is the greatest strength of the Mentor Circle program. Having a shared activity/assignment that prompts conversation makes the connection seem natural and have a purpose, which I really like."

The opportunity for reflection on a specific theme was another common benefit of participating in Mentor Circles. As noted by a participant, "...the topics of each Circle/meeting force you to think about it. There are many topics I've never spent time reflecting on before, and I appreciate that this encourages me to."

In a time of professional uncertainty for many in the field, one participant found the Mentor Circles "Very supportive and helped to get over the idea of imposter syndrome and feel empowered."

Over 60 league members participate in each round of Mentor Circles, selecting from a number of themes requested by league members [Negotiation, Blazing Your Career Trail, Leadership and Designing a Well-Lived Life]. In response to the global pandemic and participant feedback, an additional workbook was added in June on "Navigating Change and Uncertainty," which had the most participation of any other theme in its debut session. The Mentoring and Coaching committee continues to apply the feedback we receive from Mentor Circle participants. In 2021, the League will add another workbook on the theme of Management, thanks to recommendations shared in the Mentor Circle evaluation. The existing workbooks will also get a content refresh which is great for members who want to revisit a topic.

To learn more about our Mentor Circles, or to register for the next round, visit here.

Let the Light In – Keep Laughing!

Wed, 27 Jan 2021 21:32:00 GMT

Do you remember the last time you laughed? Like, really really laughed? That laugh that starts in your belly and bursts forth in sincere mirth… when was the last time you shared a moment like that? Maybe it was just last night, or maybe it has been a few months. Either way, we all know, and can feel, how good laughter is for us.

“As soap is to the body, so laughter is to the soul.”

Jewish Proverb

During our recent webinar, Let the Light In: How Humor Transforms Work and Life with Jacqueline Fletcher Johnson, we asked participants what brought them joy or laughter in 2020. So many of their answers were not only delightful, but also insightful. Laughter finds each one of us through our own unique sense of humor, equally as unique as the actual laughs that bubble out.

Below are some of the examples that were shared for what brought laughter to our Global Leadership League community in 2020:

Watch the birds; hum a tune; read comics; watch cat videos; aromatherapy
Diving in the water.
Horseback riding
Feldenkrais practice
Ask Alexa to tell you a joke; most of the time they are corny but then you can't help but laugh. Enjoy just the simple moments; watch funny baby videos; go out and watch the stars; sit in the sun for 20 minutes - get your allotment of Vitamin D
Female comedian: Amy Wong
TikTok!
I have two cats...using the laser light and watching them chasing after it.
Pound Fitness
Make a point to watch comedians - late night talk show hosts.
Andrew Cotter Instagram (sports commentator in Scotland who makes dog videos!)
I like to watch videos of babies laughing. Their laugh is contagious!
Dancing
Nourishing - curling my hair, warm tea, mindless video games
Dressing up my dog in weird clothes/hats
Have a glass of wine.
Lily Tomlin
Make it a 'Chopped' night for dinner! Pick four odd ingredients and make a dish with them and limited pantry items.
Taking pictures on Snapchat with my kiddo.
Cat videos and photos
John Mulaney comedian
Bubble baths
Walks alone with a great audio book.
Funny stuff - TikTok (Jabria, are you smart? Handle:laronhinesofficial)
Be willing to be silly and laugh at yourself!
Ask my teenage kids to show me funny videos... they have a ton!
Coffee with a friend I have not seen in a longtime.
Kate McKennon <3
Put some whisky in your cup of tea but don't tell people what it is.
Watch Bridesmaids, 27 Dresses
Massages
Michelle Wolf - comedian. (WARNING - Not for everyone!)
Bob Newhart; Stop It video
Vegetarian night once or twice a week.
Watching Carol Burnett and team make each other laugh!
Look up! Cloud patterns and night sky stars are calming.
Cardio-dance to pop/popular music.
Mad lib books
The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel
Put your favorite dance tunes on while washing the dishes.
Listen to my husband mocking comedians, watching comedians, movies on YouTube, diving "bomb" mode.
Baking cakes and cookies, especially decorated ones that let me be even more creative.
John Mulaney’s videos and shows
Hiking
Singing
WIRED Autocomplete Interviews
Silly movies like Best In Show and A Mighty Wind.
Reading mystery novels - with a cup of tea or a latte.
Reading science fiction - with a cup of tea or a latte.
I love sending funny gifs and memes, film clips, TikToks, etc. to my friends and family... that are kind of "inside joke" items that are uniquely between us.
When we were kids, we played something where we had to guess a color and whoever was the leader chose the color. If you guessed it, the leader would splash you with a thimble of water. Works great for little kids, or you could use a spray bottle with older children/adults.
Play tricks on my kids... small jokes to lighten the day.
I've been living with cancer for over 20 years: Live Laugh Love is my motto; LIVE every day, every moment; as the saying goes "laughter IS the best medicine"; love life, love yourself and love others around you. Dance!

What of your own amusements would you add to this list? We’d love to know! You can reach out to us either through our website, Facebook, or LinkedIn. Additionally, to learn more about Jacqueline and her unique healing methods (including laughter therapy), please visit this page.

We hope you all hold on to your sense of humor in 2021 and never forget to laugh a little… or a lot!

TRANSFORMATIVE: A Blog Series, Part 2

Mon, 04 Jan 2021 14:53:28 GMT

Organizational Transformation

For the second part of our Transformative blog series, we decided to take a look beyond the personal transformations that have occurred this past year to the organizations and businesses that have had to pause, pivot, and re-adjust.

We asked ourselves, and the volunteers on our board, the following:

“How are our institutions and organizations experiencing their own transformative processes?”

Amy Bass Henry is the Executive Director of International Education at the Georgia Institute of Technology and was kind enough to take a few minutes to share with us the transformative processes she is witnessing within her organization. As Executive Director of International Education, Amy helps to run a centralized office that focuses primarily on student-centered global education for a campus of more than 35,000 students.

One of the largest shifts within the institution that Amy has observed is the repositioning to hybrid instruction and hybrid work. This shift has transformed their campus, the ways they interact with students and other stakeholders, the ways they support their students, the ways they fulfill their mission, and the ways they connect with and support each other. The impact has been monumental on Georgia Tech and the processes the institution relies on for operation.

Yet, as Amy optimistically points out, not all of the impacts have been negative. This transformative process, on a large scale, has worked to deepen their commitment to their mission, and acted as an opportunity for redoubling their educational, research, and service work. Georgia Tech even issued an updated mission statement in May of 2020 (what a great idea!). They shared:

We are committed to "developing leaders who advance technology and improve the human condition."

When pressed on the negative impacts that have inevitably influenced her portion of the organization, Amy shares the sense of grief that some of her co-workers in the International Education office have recently expressed. Grief over canceling international mobility programs, grief for the upheaval and disarray the pandemic has caused for international students, and grief for the transformative experiences that many had worked to plan, and many had planned to attend. So much of what they did and how they did it had to change at the drop of a hat, and that can certainly generate feelings of despair. However, their organization has worked to combat these discouraging changes through cross-training and emphasizing non-travel international learning opportunities. We loved what Amy shared about these shifts:

“Whenever there is a lot of destruction, there is also a surplus of opportunity to do good.”

We asked Amy about how she thinks the transformative experiences being encountered now will lead to other transformations in the future for her organization. Besides exposing new ways of doing business to meet students’ and stakeholders’ needs, the organization has had to assess the effectiveness of all “new” approaches, and Amy believes this innovation will surely carry forward in their future interactions to help ensure they keep the things that are better serving their students. A few of these new approaches include virtual drop-in advising (in place of the traditional physical reception/waiting room to see an advisor) and online intercultural workshops. Further, she points out, is the plus side that our current state of transformation has created a period of change in which innovation can thrive.

Leaders in any position are being tested by this pandemic. This means their decisions and leadership style may have had to shift recently. For Amy, the stressors of COVID-19 have helped her to use her “True North” to guide her decision making. She uses the mission, vision, and values of her office to keep her leadership on track. These cornerstones of the larger institution have become even more important to integrate during these times of crisis and/or change. Amy has observed her own personal leadership transformation in how she connects with and supports others in her office. She quips, “New tools and new skills are requisite for this transformation!”.

For her closing thought, Amy shared with us her recommendation for others in similar positions or those just looking to learn.

“Be flexible. Ask yourself every day: how can I be of best service to my organization?”

The Global Leadership League wants to extend a big Thank You to Amy Bass Henry for her time and shared insights! We are excited to see what opportunities and exchanges will occur in our continued dialogue about our annual theme word, Transformative. Stay tuned for follow-up portions to our Transformative blog series, and we invite all to join in the conversation with us. You can reach out to us either through our website, Facebook, or LinkedIn.

Holiday Recipe Share

Wed, 09 Dec 2020 14:52:56 GMT

You know that scent where no matter where you are, or how it hits you, it automatically transports you to the holidays?

Maybe it is the scent of Pine or the smell of a candle with orange and clove. Or, maybe, it is the smell of your family’s cooking! So many of our favorite holiday activities and gatherings focus on the delicious food we get to prepare and share with our dear loved ones.

Do you have a favorite holiday dish? Is it one that has been passed down from generation to generation or is it one you’ve picked up recently? Either way, lovingly crafted dishes are at the center of all the togetherness for the holidays for so many people. At our recent Global Leadership League Holiday Hoopla, we asked participants to share some of their favorite holiday recipes. Here are a few of the tasty treats that were shared.

Our League members have access to events like this and so many more. Hone your leadership skills and network with other amazing colleagues in the field through programs such as Career Connections, Chat Box discussion groups, and webinars. Individual memberships are just $35 currently and includes access to all of our GLL resources. Interested? Learn more here.

The mission of the Global Leadership League is to ignite change across the global education field by empowering, connecting, and training leaders. We invite you to reach out to us here or learn more about becoming a member.

7 Ways to Give Back to Your Community Today!

Wed, 28 Oct 2020 23:53:40 GMT

What is your community? Where do you find your sense of belonging and purpose?

COVID-19 has left many of us seeking out our communities for support and inclusion. From physical communities to the ones we’ve created virtually, the act of contributing to and giving back is now more crucial than ever. At the Global Leadership League, we are all about supporting our communities and their individuals. Because of this, we want to share a few ideas for giving back to your local community during these times of the pandemic.

1.Plant a Garden or a Tree

This is a great way to physically impact and support your community environment. Get your hands dirty and spend some time planting a tree or garden area outside your home.

2.Volunteer at a local Nonprofit

During these times of COVID lots of nonprofits may have restrictions around direct contact. But this doesn’t mean that you can’t help in other ways! From administrational duties to donation collection, there are lots of ways to safely volunteer for your local charities. Reach out and ask!

3.Donate clothing/household items

Most of us have items around our house that we could stand to part with. Take some time to look through your closet, kitchen, and linens for clean well-kept items that could be donated to local charities.

4.Install a Little Free Library OR Pantry

This one might be for those that are a bit craftier. But, if you have the room, consider creating a Little Free Library with books or a pantry with nonperishable items. Learn more about how to build one here, from the Little Free Library organization.

5.Donate Blood

A quick Google search will pull up the closest blood donation centers for you. We recommend familiarizing yourself ahead of time with their COVID 19 procedures and policies, but this is one of the best ways you can physically support other members of your own community.

6.Write Thank You Cards

Postal workers, firefighters, waste collectors, law enforcement, retail employees- there are SO many individuals that work to keep our communities running successfully and smoothly. A handwritten thank you letter is a great way to let them know that you appreciate them and all they do for their community.

7.Community Clean Up

Whether it is an elderly neighbor’s yard or the park down the street, spend some time picking up the trash, collecting the debris, and all around leaving the space better than when you found it.

We are all responsible for contributing to our communities and understanding that improvement starts with us. Because if not you, then who?

What are other community ideas we missed? Share with us how you choose to give back to your different communities! Reach out on either our Facebook or LinkedIn.

TRANSFORMATIVE: A Blog Series

Tue, 29 Sep 2020 16:30:00 GMT

We each walk our own unique life path, as specific to each individual as our own fingerprints. The events that shape our lives are transformative in how they impact us, our choices, and our futures. From happy times, to loss or illness, these experiences weave their narrative in our journey, nudging (or sometimes pushing?) us further on our way.

The Global Leadership League wants to be part of your journey. We are providing a platform for global educators to explore and shape the field through open dialogue and skills advancement. As part of this, we have selected the word TRANSFORMATIVE for our 2020-2021 theme. We believe this word represents, and offers, the opportunity for exploration and inquiry into not only our own transformative experiences and impacts, but those also of our families, organizations, communities, and beyond.

Change is a key element for a transformative experience. Change can mean different things for different people. We recently asked our League volunteers to describe what the word Transformative means to them. From personal struggles to professional insights for the Global Education industry, our volunteers had plenty to share about their own transformative experiences and what it means for them.

For many it was about personal growth:

“Learning to let go of the way things were, strengthen, and embrace new ways of thinking and being.”

“Using the opportunity to reflect during this time of stillness and non-movement to transform my life from a career and social life I once had in to one that suits me the best.”

“Changing and developing my body and mindset and giving up some habits that don't serve me anymore. In international education it means changing and adapting to the world changes/impacts of COVID.”

“I am constantly seeking new learning opportunities, stretching my comfort zone, and knowing when to slow down and take a break because we are in the middle of a pandemic! I am leaning into transformation, both by spreading my wings and deepening my roots. And I am learning constantly, and listening, and paying attention.”

Unsurprisingly, as well our professional experiences carry a large amount of transformative energy, both in what has spurred us to be where we are and in what drives us moving forward. Our volunteers shared about their professional thoughts:

“Taking what COVID has thrown at us and using it to transform ourselves, our view of our work, our networks, and our professional outlooks into new, innovative, and previously unthought of directions.”

“Having the courage to step outside my comfort zone and grow/learn within my role and outside of my role to be a more well-rounded professional.”

“Transformative has been about moving into a new realm of work, the focus has shifted in terms of service provided and product students can engage with. We've had to adapt and get creative really quickly to transform what we offer. Interestingly, a lot of our transformation has been in areas we've considered before but not had the time or space to really focus on, so now we've had to look at the needed change and move that forward rapidly through new vision and inspiration.”

And, we loved the focus of community in our volunteer’s thoughts:

“Transformative means seizing opportunities to grow and supporting others in seizing their opportunities. It also means doing the emotional and psychological work to make positive meaning out of the many ways our lives have and are changing. Finally, it means supporting those who are suffering from effects of the events of 2020 and from past happenings to keep building the Beloved Community.”

We are excited to see what opportunities and exchanges will occur in our continued dialogue about our annual theme word Transformative. Stay tuned for the follow-up portions to our Transformative blog series, and we invite all to join in the conversation with us.

The mission of the Global Leadership League is to ignite change across the global education field by empowering, connecting, and training leaders. We invite you to reach out to us here or learn more about becoming a member.

Using Our Voice

Thu, 30 Jul 2020 16:17:52 GMT

Foreward by Kanette Worlds

I, too, am America.

These emphatic four words that conclude the poem I, Too, written by Langston Hughes still resonates with me to this day.

I discovered Langston’s poetry in high school while working on an English research paper about the Harlem Renaissance. In this particular poem, Hughes declares his right to be considered a full and equal American citizen.

Written in 1925 in the midst of legal segregation, I understood the message, but it hit differently when I left American soil and moved abroad to Tanzania. It may very well be the only instance in my life that my race and skin color were considered insignificant.

In sub-Saharan Africa, people mostly concern themselves with nationality or ethnic identity, but less attention is given to race. So, upon my arrival, I was not a black person, nor an African American – I was just American. Oh, if only this concept were true in America!

I moved abroad because I was curious about my own ancestry and have a general interest in other cultures. Living among the racial majority for nearly three years was an eye-opening experience. The innate anxiety and fear of prejudice that comes with being a black minority in America subsided and was reduced to simply worrying about how I would navigate a new language.

I am an advocate for international travel and global education for this very reason. In order to really understand the experience of another person, you have to step outside your comfort zone, your culture, and sometimes your country and be intentional about seeking new experiences and relationships.

At the core of the Black Lives Matter movement is the demand for acknowledgement. Acknowledgement that slavery, segregation, and systemic racism is real… Acceptance that this reality frequently makes life really difficult for a particular group of people in the United States... and an Understanding that individually and collectively we have the power to erase racial bias and insensitivity.

As easy as it might be to make a reservation for dinner at your favorite international restaurant or book a flight to another country – we can do the same thing at home. We can invite our neighbors, co-workers, or the parents of our kid’s friends, who come from different cultural backgrounds, over for dinner (or on Zoom) and have random conversations, enjoy a movie night, or read poetry by Langston Hughes!

Cultural diversity is what makes this country beautiful and unique. We, too, are America!

- Kanette Worlds

We at the Global Leadership League believe that speaking up and standing tall for the sake of your community, and all of its members, matters. Those who choose to step forward for their communities in the face of challenges, and through the pains of growth, are what make communities such powerful things.

Below is a list of resources we have compiled from other articles and organizations. These are to help us all explore, listen, and support this important movement. Keep pushing forward for justice. Keep raising awareness and attention for the cause. Keep focusing on a better tomorrow and striving for better communities for all of us.

Today and every day, Black Lives Matter.

Resources for Black Lives Matter Allyship and Support:

Donations

Donate to organizations and sources that are verified, trustworthy, and contribute to the cause. Here are a handful of options for donations in support of Black Lives Matter that have been vetted.

1. 142 Ways to Donate in Support of Black Lives and Communities of Color

2. Elijah McClain Memorial Fund

3. George Floyd Memorial Fund

4. Breonna Taylor Memorial Fund

5. 20 Social Justice Organizations to Support Right Now

6. 14 Black Funds and 23 Creative Ecosystems to Support

Reading Resources

Take time to suspend your own opinions and just. listen. Below are articles that offer numerous reading options and opportunities.

1. Guide to Allyship

2. An Essential #BlackLivesMatter Reading List

3. Deliberate & Unafraid: A New Book Club Cultivating Fearless, Creative Warriors

4. Do The Work: An Anti-Racist Reading List

5. From BlackLivesMatter.com Resources and Toolkits

6. This resource from FutureLearn offers petitions to sign, a reading list, and films to watch.

Work Place Actions

Here are a few articles exploring how companies and organizations can work to foster transparent and supportive workplace environments for all.

1. How Businesses Can Show Real Support for Black Lives Matter

2. Corporations Say 'Black Lives Matter.' Here's What They Need to Do to Show They Mean It

3. Why words aren’t enough from companies claiming to support Black Lives Matter

BLM Social Media

Stay in touch with the cause through these social media accounts. Allyship and activism is an everyday thing.

1. Black Lives Matter Facebook

2. Black Lives Matter Twitter

3. Black Lives Matter Instagram

4. NAACP Facebook

5. NAACP Twitter

6. NAACP Instagram

Lastly, find your local Black Lives Matter chapter here.

Is there a BLM resource you'd like to see added to this list? Give us a shout either on our social media (Facebook or Twitter) or Contact us here and let us know.

Aging Parents and International Educators–A Blog Series, Part 3

Mon, 29 Jun 2020 16:00:19 GMT

PART III

Welcome back to the next part of our blog series, Aging Parents and International Educators. In this blog series, The Global Leadership League explores the topic of work and family dynamics for international educators with aging parents. We spoke with instructors from around the world for a glimpse into their worlds and families.

In our prior two segments of the series, we spoke with Lakshmi Iyer of New Delhi, India, and Sarah Spencer of St. Paul, Minnesota, USA. For our third featured international educator, we spoke with Sheila Houston of Australia. See her responses below.

Shelia Houston

Director, Cross Cultural Encounters

Australia

How old are your parents and what are their medical issues?

My mother is 84 with congestive heart failure. My father is 85 and is being treated for cancer.

Where do you live and where do they live? Where do you travel for work and how often?

I live in Australia and travel for work mainly in the South Pacific countries. Occasionally, once or twice a year I will travel to the United States. My parents live in Oklahoma in the USA.

When managing a career in international education and dealing with aging parent, you need a team of helpers. Whether it’s a traditional team, like family, or a nontraditional team like friends and coworkers, who is your team and how do they help you?

I have many to share:

My family support me with empathy and love.
My coworkers support and cover for me when I am away unexpectedly.
My friends and my parents’ friends who live in the U.S. have been wonderful with keeping me informed of health issues (my parents are not always forthcoming), helping with transportation and food for them as well as supporting me when I am there.
My parents’ healthcare workers and doctors have been very good about speaking to me over the phone and understanding the issues of having their only child so far away.

Do you have a contingency plan, if something happens and you need to attend to your parent?

The plan has always been to jump on the next flight and work out the details of work, life, and family as I travel. It seems to have worked for me so far. But now, with Coronavirus restrictions on travel in place, I have had to rethink my contingency plan. For the first time in my life I am unable to get to my parent’s aid if they need me.

Together my parents and I have designated a willing friend to hold a key to their home, and she has agreed to periodically check on them and advise me should there be any issues. My parents have planned and paid for their funerals and burial plots so that the management from afar is less onerous on me. We have also agreed that if either of them should die while I am unable to travel, they will be buried and when I am able to get there, we will have a proper funeral.

Do you have any tips or advice for others dealing with similar situations?

I have been very fortunate to do much of my work remotely, so traveling while continuing with my work has not been a negative issue. My advice for others would be to:

Cultivate relationships with your parent's friends and distant relatives. People are wonderful and will do much to help. While my parents are not tech savvy, some of their friends understand technology. We text occasionally, just to stay in touch.

Keep the price of an airfare in reserve and be sure to talk to the airlines about what is happening, they are excellent in these type of circumstances.

Have the difficult talk about funerals and their desires, early on. When it is looming and their health is deteriorating, it is a much more difficult and emotive conversation.

The League Team Talks Leadership

Thu, 28 May 2020 16:00:00 GMT

For many people right now, the recent spread of the COVID-19 virus has turned their professional work world upside down. People have moved from office settings to at home set ups. Quiet spaces can be hard to find, and many might be feeling the lack of camaraderie or companionship that comes with the workspace structure. In times like this, it can be especially challenging to show up as a leader.

So, in our current socially-distanced world, how do you practice leadership?

We recently asked some of our Global Leadership League volunteers and board members to share advice on leadership during these times of transition and uncertainty. Their answers offered great insights and varied just as much as all the individuals that shared them. Here is what they had to say…

“What is one tip you would share about applying leadership in these times of transition? What is one idea you are utilizing that you think others could benefit from?”
1. Try to utilize and stay inspired by your organization’s mission when making tough decisions as a leader in this time.
2. Transparency and vulnerability first – it’s important that your team knows that it is OK to not be OK during these uncertain times and that we are all experiencing discomfort. This opens up lines of comfort and builds strong bonds. Mistakes will happen, things will slip as we have heightened stress, but we will get through it if we are vulnerable and open with each other.
Consider Radical Candor by Kim Scott or Dare to Lead by Brene Brown for good leadership books on the topic of vulnerability and transparency.
3. A simple one perhaps, but important in the current situation. Be grateful. Our teams are working hard – often sacrificing sleep or juggling family – to meet work expectations. This is a new norm and a simple, kind gesture of appreciation can make all the difference.
4. Slow down! I see so many people rushing to 'prove' that they are still working as hard, or even harder than ever before. Mistakes and knee-jerk reactions are not what is needed now, but rather cool, calm, collected and informed decision making.
5. Remember to focus on values as the driver of decision-making. I try to let go of what I thought I would be working on and instead ask myself every day what is most important for me to work on that will support my organization, my team, and our stakeholders.
I re-read this poem regularly:
There is no controlling life.
Try corralling a lightning bolt,
containing a tornado. Dam a
stream and it will create a new
channel. Resist, and the tide
will sweep you off your feet.
Allow, and grace will carry
you to higher ground. The only
safety lies in letting it all in –
the wild and the weak; fear,
fantasies, failures and success.
When loss rips off the doors of
the heart, or sadness veils your
vision with despair, practice
becomes simply bearing the truth.
In the choice to let go of your
known way of being, the whole
world is revealed to your new eyes.
~ Danna Faulds
6. “Grace" is my new norm and I am applying grace in the following ways: 1) If someone doesn't answer me right away or in a timely fashion my usual assumption is "What are they doing don't they know this is important!" But now I am saying "Okay, they have family to deal with and are most likely waiting until they can get a quiet moment for a thoughtful reply vs something from their phone." This has proven to be true. 2) I work even harder to set mutually acceptable deadlines and really ask myself "Is it that urgent or am I just thinking it is urgent?" before I hold someone to a task. They have a lot to contend with including spotty internet so it may take more time. 3) Finally, I am applying grace when I see them on Zoom and they don't look happy or excited. Life is draining right now and endless zoom meetings are as boring and complicated as endless meetings in an office. I always try to start with a meme, joke, or get everyone to share something and then people loosen up. I know they cannot always be thrilled with their life and the work in this new environment. That’s my word of the month - GRACE.
7. The most effective approach I am taking is understanding colleagues with childcare / elder parents, or households that are challenging for working from home. Knowing my colleagues and the teams I work with, we have been very flexible about work schedules- not setting any deadlines that are unrealistic and asking each other to work around our availability. Flexibility has been key. For example, it is 9:40 pm where I live and I am starting my work day as I just put my son to sleep. Leadership has to be about understanding every individual's personal challenges right now and being fully aware of their home lives and providing as much support around this as possible.
8. I am watching my partner’s team “guess” at what their leader is “implying” but seems unwilling to put in writing. It is causing stress, phone calls, text messages, etc., all filled with misinformation and hearsay. Strong leadership is absent in this situation. In an alternative scenario, there would be an outline of expectations complete with steps on how to complete the tasks, etc. This may not feel like leadership, but in times of crisis – and this is a crisis – leaders must also be strong managers.

If you are interested in learning about different leadership opportunities, communities, and conversations, consider joining the Global Leadership League now for a special discounted price.* Learn more here about joining The League. Additionally, our League volunteers are the lifeblood of this organization and we couldn’t do it without them. If you are interested in volunteering with The League, learn more here.

*50% off all memberships, both individual and group. This is a limited time offer, good through April, 2021.

STOP DOING THIS

Fri, 10 Apr 2020 16:00:00 GMT

There has been SO MUCH going on in our world lately with the pandemic spread of the Coronavirus and COVID-19. Our schedules and day to day activities have been turned on their heads and finding our new daily normal can feel overwhelming.

During these periods of transition and uncertainty the brain needs time to recuperate and relax. Are you giving yourself the permission to take care of YOU? You should be.

STOP trying to behave as if everything is normal and that your life and productivity should carry on as such. These are strange times and creating the space to take care of yourself is important- don’t snub the self-care. As well, taking a detox from the constant barrage of news and social media can be essential. Give yourself permission to take that time in the morning or in the evening, an hour a day, or whatever it is that you need for true self-care. Allow yourself to focus on just you for that moment. We promise, the things that are driving you crazy will still be there after you’re done.

We wanted to share a few self-care ideas that we here at the Global Leadership League are utilizing ourselves to stay healthy and stay sane. These can be done no matter where in the world you find yourself.
Go for a walk, do yoga, or simply stretch. (10 Simple Yoga Exercises to Stretch and Strengthen)
Read a chapter of a new book or read a chapter of your favorite book.
Go outside and sit in the sunshine for 15 minutes.
Watch a mindless 30 min humorous tv show. There are so many streaming platforms now that offer lots of good options!
List 5 things you are grateful for at this very moment. Consider listing them out-loud or writing them down. (In Praise of Gratitude)
List something you can see, something you can hear, something you can smell, something you can taste and something you can touch at that instant. This is a great practice for grounding yourself in the moment. (30 Grounding Techniques to Quiet Distressing Thoughts)
Music is a wonderful distractor and can change your mood! (Why Do We Turn To Music In Times Of Crisis?)
Plan for a future vacation. You do NOT need to spend money and you don't need reserve anything. Just take time to explore, plan what you would do if you went, and make fun ideas for the future. (The 12 Best Virtual Vacations You Can Take Without Traveling)
Utilize aroma therapy. A hand lotion, scented candle, or oil diffuser can all help to lift your mood and tap into sensory relaxation.
Connect with friends and family virtually. Schedule time to Skype, FaceTime, Zoom, WhatsApp, GroupMe or whatever you may use to stay in contact. Time spent connecting with loved ones is always time well spent. Try this type of call away from your desk!

What other ideas do you have for self-care? Taking care of yourself can look different for every person, but the time and intention behind it is the same for all. We hope all of our friends and colleagues around the world are staying safe and healthy through this new transition in global health.

Lastly, one of the many resources we offer to our Global Leadership League members are Mentoring Circles. These are a great opportunity to make professional connections virtually (especially while we are all currently quarantined!). We invite you to learn more about Mentoring Circles here.

For our members who are already familiar with Mentoring Circles, we are launching a (quite timely) new offering starting July 1^st, 2020 on “Navigating Change and Uncertainty.” We invite you to learn more here.

Aging Parents and International Educators – A Blog Series, Part 2

Mon, 16 Mar 2020 19:00:36 GMT

Part II

In this blog series, The Global Leadership League is exploring the topic of work and family dynamics for international educators with aging parents. We spoke with four instructors from around the world for a glimpse into their worlds and families.

In our first segment of the series, we spoke with Lakshmi Iyer of New Delhi, India. For this second featured international educator, we caught up with Sarah E. Spencer of St. Paul, Minnesota.

Sarah E. Spencer

Global Educator, Strategic Initiatives & Special Projects

St. Paul, Minnesota, United States

How old are your parents and what are their medical issues?

My mom passed away in December 2018 after living with multiple sclerosis for 37 years. She was bed bound since 1999 and was in and out of the hospital every winter since 2014. I managed many study-abroad emergencies from the ICU. My father recently turned 80.

Where do you live and where do they live? Where do you travel for work and how often?

I live in St. Paul, Minnesota and my parents are based in Cedar Rapids, Iowa here in the United States; it is a 4 ½ hour drive away from my home. In my previous university position, I traveled globally, up to 20% of the time.

When managing a career in international education and dealing with an aging parent, you need a team of helpers. Whether it is a traditional team, like family, or a non-traditional team like friends and co-workers, who is your team and how do they help you?

My Rhode Island-based brother and I were lucky that my father was well enough to serve as primary caregiver and my parents were financially able to hire some respite help. As well, I always had consistent support from my university co-workers and friends, and our amazing professional colleagues (at a conference, many would ask first, how’s your mom?), in addition to my partner and my brother. The hardest thing to remember is to say Yes when people offer to help.

Do you have a contingency plan if you need to attend to your parent?

As an international educator we always think about emergency response protocols for our student mobility programs, and I realized my professional expertise could support this personal situation. Do I have to lead that site visit or is delegation an option? If I can’t travel, which of the staff can cover? What is the go/no go date? Who else needs to know and what is the communication plan? If I’m on-site, how fast can I get home and what would it cost?

Do you have any tips or advice for others dealing with similar situations?

First tip would be always to have a backup plan. If you can’t be there to help your parents, think through who can take your place.

Second, be conscious of time zones. Make arrangements for when and how you will communicate and choose a time that will work for all parties involved. Luckily, communication is a lot easier and cheaper than it used to be with calling apps like WhatsApp.

Another tip, purchase trip cancellation insurance for work flights, just in case you have to adjust and reschedule. This might depend on what your organization buys for you or what airline you are flying.

Lastly, anyone can be considered as a caregiver - from living with a parent to living overseas. A recent Minnesota Public Radio program addressed Caring for the Caregiver, and I highly recommend giving it a listen. You can find a link to the program here.

The mission of the Global Leadership League is to ignite change across the global education field by empowering, connecting, and training leaders. We invite you to reach out to us here or learn more about becoming a member.

Up In The Air - Travel for International Educators

Sat, 22 Feb 2020 19:23:11 GMT

How to keep it together while traveling for work.

Anyone who works in International Education can tell you that the demands of the job can be rigorous. In a recent blog series, we explore this topic in relation to aging parents.

But today, we are talking about the demands of the job in a much more physical sense… traveling. People to see, places to be, trains to take, planes to catch. You get the idea.

When it comes to travel for international educators, there are numerous factors to consider. From leaving their families for extended periods of time to keeping all of the balls up in the air for professional responsibilities both at home and abroad, it can be a lot. Not to mention navigating the packing, physical transportation demands, time zone shifts, and cultural changes. Through all of this, the mind and body can take a beating.

With all of these pressures and stressors, the urge to hit the ground running when the plane touches down can be a strong one. Lots of international educators fall into the ‘productivity trap’ of tackling as much-as-possible, in as short amount of time-as-possible, in order to turn around and get home as quickly-as-possible. Additionally, the pressure to be budget conscience and keep the trip to as few nights as needed can compound this productivity impulse. In the long run however, this mindset can be extremely detrimental and result in excessive stress, exhaustion, and sleep deprivation.

When faced with the challenges of this travel-based industry, it is important for international educators to create space for self-care and healthy balance. Life is a series of choices and trade-offs, and prioritizing overall well-being now will mean more demands can be met later - avoiding burnout or physical breakdowns such as injuries and illness. As well, today’s modern world luckily offers lots of support and portable comforts for easing these demands.

Getting good with technology can really be of benefit to educators abroad. For communication with loved ones, there are numerous apps available to help alleviate physical distances. WhatsApp is a platform that offers free international messaging, and platforms such as Google Duo, Skype, or FaceTime offer free video chats. SnapChat can be another great option for sharing special experiences and moments without having to coordinate time zones to be on a call.

For getting work done while also meeting the demands of a travel schedule, we suggest tapping into some of the wonderful productivity apps and programs that can help. There is a whole slew readily available to help you set schedules, keep track of project developments, and stay in communication with work teams back home. Here is an article about the best productivity apps for 2020.

Lastly, prioritizing physical health should be a main consideration. Allowing yourself a half day or a day to adjust, acclimate, and take care of yours needs can mean the difference in feeling drained the rest of the trip or feeling ready and reliable. Talk with your manager on budgets before you leave and see if you can add a night at the hotel to accommodate this necessary time for self-care in your schedule. This might also mean skipping a trip to see the historical cathedral for a trip to the gym, or a healthy dinner and an early bed-time instead of that meal out. Just like at home, plenty of sleep and lots water will help keep you going and right on track.

For international educators the demands can be many and tough. But, with proper consideration and preparation we believe you can be your best wherever in the world you may find yourself. Safe travels!

Aging Parents and International Educators – A Blog Series, Part 1

Tue, 28 Jan 2020 17:31:00 GMT

Part I

A career in international education can be exhilarating. We have the privilege of traveling the world, experiencing other cultures, and meeting new people as part of our job. But, as we age, many of us take on responsibilities that do not co-exist well with these career benefits. The thrill of travel and stepping into different worlds can suddenly feel like a burden when commitments at home begin to stack up.

One such responsibility international educators may experience is the necessary care for aging or sick parents at home. While this topic is broad and complex, we sought to share some insight into how other instructors balance this work-life dynamic.

The Global Leadership League spoke with four international educators from around the world about how they balance work and family obligations. Our first educator in the series is Lakshmi Iyer of New Delhi, India.

Lakshmi Iyer

Executive Director & Head of Education
Sannam S4
New Delhi, India

How old are your parents and what are their medical issues?

My parents are in their late 70s. My mother suffers from Meniere’s disease for which there is no cure. We have to manage the condition while dealing with uncertainty and the loss of quality of life. Meniere’s destroys the nerves in the inner ear and causes tinnitus (ringing in the ear) and vertigo. My father acts as the primary caregiver during my mother’s vertigo episodes, which debilitate her for a couple of days.

Where do you live and where do they live? Where do you travel for work and how often?

I live in New Delhi, India. My parents live about 4 hours away by plane, in Kerala in the South of India. I travel all around the world for work and typical travel over 16 weeks a year.

When managing a career in international education and dealing with an aging parent, you need a team of helpers. Whether it’s a traditional team, like family, or a non-traditional team like friends and co-workers, who is your team and how do they help you?

Recently, my brother and I leased an apartment next door to my flat in Delhi so that my parents can live as independently as possible. My parents now divide their time between India and the United States, where my brother lives, so we take turns in accompanying them on the long journey one way and help share the load of the travel.

Do you have a contingency plan if something happens to your parent?

The contingency plan is ‘me’ and being able to be there on short notice in order to support them if the need arises.

Do you have any tips or advice for others dealing with similar situations?

Financial resources are paramount. I am fortunate that I share that with my brother. My parents have their pensions as well and are not financially reliant on anyone. I check in on them daily when I am on the road and the fact that my mother is tech savvy is helpful. My father is on Whatsapp, which enables us to see each other and chat.

2020: Explore Your Power

Wed, 11 Dec 2019 20:10:14 GMT

Power. It can be a scary word, associated with negative connotations like abuse of power or feeling powerless. In higher education, we often shy away from these strong words, as our context is about service to students and the greater community.

But our organizations need strong leaders who can make decisions and advance the work so how can power be a catalyst for success? If we learn how to harness it in the right way, we can reach goals and objectives we never thought possible.

The Global Leadership League has chosen power as this year’s theme. During the next twelve months, we will celebrate and challenge ourselves to become better leaders in higher education, explore the role power plays in our field and demystify how to gain and use it to lean into established organizational structures instead of shying away from them.

Power has always been a part of the organizational structure of higher education, playing an essential role in how things are accomplished. Like a gas pedal, power can be overused or underused, propelling us forward or holding us back. As leaders, we need to learn how to best use and share our new-found power. Finding a balance can prove challenging, and testing the waters and seeking advice can come at a price. Note - power is not hard-wired to feminine or masculine leadership and yet we need to explore how our gender informs our view of and expression of power.

We invite you to join the conversation. Becoming a member, attend our 2020 events, learn from one of our webinars or read our new blog. However you choose to engage in the dialogue, we are thrilled to have you.

Here’s to a powerful year!

Cynthia Banks