Please tell us about yourself.
I am an educator, author, speaker, and leadership coach. My core focus these days is humanistic leadership and Joyful Work. I have a sense of urgency and, of course, much passion for my work. I am truly living an authentic life. To be sustainable, we need a new way to better lead ourselves and others. From my experience, when people are well-led, the metrics take care of themselves. In 2015, I developed the Joyful Work Model© as one way to think about work and how to live an authentic life.
When I was in my 20s... I just wanted to make money, be independent, and have an impressive job title. My first three jobs gave me some money and independence, but not such an impressive job title. I also constantly yearned for more responsibility, mostly because I was bored. My internal motivation paid off, and I became a supervisor and manager in a Fortune 50 company at a very young age. I was good at organizing, communicating, and helping people accomplish their goals and work better together. It came naturally to me. Of course, senior management liked these qualities, and from there, my leadership career took off.
I have four grown children, and my wife and I live in Petaluma, California.
What experience do you have as a leader?
For many years, I was a senior manager in Fortune 50 companies. I was also one of the original founding members of Pandesic, one of the first e-commerce companies.
I worked in the tech sector. I have also taught at multiple universities worldwide, including Russia, China, Vietnam, Europe, and the U.S., both online and in the classroom.
How have you seen students' lives impacted by completing the Leadership Studies program?
I have seen students enter the program unsure of what to expect -- perhaps needing more academic experience -- and they graduate with new educational and practical skills. And most importantly, they have new confidence about themselves and their future direction.
What do leadership and teaching have in common?
To be a great leader, one must be a great teacher -- so they are the same.
Why do you think this program is important?
The program enables students to complete their degree from an established university, connect with and network with other students on the same path, and learn new practical skills and ideas they apply directly after each class.
What is your favorite thing about teaching online?
Teaching online enables me flexibility, creativity, and variety. Our program is asynchronous, so not being tied to a schedule and time aligns nicely with my other work.
