IDL137 Season 3: Untapped Leadership with Jenny Vazquez-Newsum
In which surprising places would you find powerful leadership to learn from? How is outdated leadership holding the world - and you - back from resonating with the present moment? What are the two vital aspects of leadership?
Hello and welcome back to the Impact Driven Leader! Today, I have an insightful conversation with Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, author of Untapped Leadership, Harnessing the Power of Underrepresented Leaders. We consider how to look for untapped sources of leadership, discussing how older models of leadership need to be set aside, and which other paths leaders should walk.
Meet Jenny Vazquez-Newsum
Jenny Vazquez-Newsum, Ed.D. is a leadership facilitator, the author of Untapped Leadership: Harnessing the Power of Underrepresented Leaders, and the Founder of Untapped Leaders, a leadership development organization specializing in uncovering overlooked capacities and untapped talent.
Over the past two decades, Jenny has facilitated training for 500+ leaders ranging from established executives at large corporations to high school students beginning their leadership journeys – witnessing the untapped capacities across all stages of career paths. Through her work at Untapped Leaders, Jenny spearheads a leadership development community platform, cohorts, and an executive coaching program designed by and for leaders of color. She also partners with organizations to deliver leadership training sessions grounded in marginalized perspectives.
Jenny holds a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Southern California, an M.P.A from New York University, and an Ed.D from the University of California - Los Angeles. She currently resides in Santa Monica, CA with her husband, Shaun, and two young children, Chase and Maeve.
Visit Untapped Leadership and connect on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
IN THIS EPISODE WE DISCUSS:
Creating leadership from a new source - 07:03
Old leadership needs to let go - 15:54
There are many routes to the same destination - 30:23
Two vital factors of leadership - 37:06
Creating leadership from a new source
“Over the last few decades, [I realized that] all the books I had read and all the frameworks I had facilitated actually weren’t written by someone who looked like me and maybe didn’t even have someone like me in mind … A few centuries ago [classic leadership] was built in these areas of exclusion and I really wanted to attack that head on. ”
Jenny wanted to make the change that she longed to see in her life. She saw a lack of representation, and found a way to provide a service to people - a source of inspiration to them - that they had not had much of before.
By writing Untapped Leadership, Jenny tapped into the marginalized perspective that she had lived through to draw from the sources of strength and leadership that she knew existed within her community but was not often seen by the outside world.
“There is this untapped leadership that exists in places that we don’t traditionally look to … that’s really what Untapped Leadership was about, really reframing leadership and thinking about it from the perspective of those that have been overlooked but it’s something that all of us can tap into.”
Old leadership needs to let go
It is always important to look back and learn from the experiences and histories of those that came before us when plotting the future course of action.
However, the world can get stuck in a cycle of repeating problems when one type or style of leadership refuses to let go or be changed by the times.
It is necessary for change to occur, and even better when that change learns from where it came from before, but a person, a country, or a world risks stagnation and suffering when it refuses to allow change or to be influenced by those that are growing within it.
“A lot of our problems were driven and are driven by baby boomers that just won’t let go and won’t let a new generation of leaders that look different, have different experiences, that view the world differently come in and start to go through that leadership process. Why not be there to guide them rather than critique them and say, “You’re doing it all wrong?” That’s where I come to this archetype of leadership that we’re trying to deconstruct. ”
This type of leadership doesn’t need to be deconstructed because it is wrong but because it is no longer a true reflection of what the population wants or needs.
There are many routes to the same destination
“Do I have the willingness? Do I have the desire? Do I have the attitude? Then it doesn’t matter … that’s the great pivot point of our society today, is that we’ve gotten past the, “You have to have all of these qualifications” because our world is starting to understand [that it doesn’t matter] … Are you willing to go learn? Yes. Do you want to do it? Yes. Then have at it. ”
There are many ways that you can reach the end-point of a dream or a goal. There is no “right” way to go about life, so long as you stick to your principles and values in that pursuit of your ambition.
The same goes with leadership, but it is important to remember that the route you choose to take to get to your destination will impact what your destination looks like, and this is because you are working with people.
People change everything, so you need to keep your focus on them more than on the end-point. More successful leaders that lead great teams often focus more on the quality of the people in front of them than on the degrees and papers in their background.
Two vital factors of leadership
1 - Be inwardly sound
2 - Be other-focused
A successful leader needs to be self-aware and have a strong connection with their inner self by taking accountability and being vulnerable, as well as focusing on those around them.
Each aspect is crucial and combined they create a powerful, psychologically safe, empathetic, and effective leader.
“I always think of leadership and leaders as being facilitators, and you mentioned the word “guide” earlier, I don’t think there’s anything else to it besides facilitating the leadership of others. ”
How are you showing up? What are you tapping into? How are your emotions and mindset setting up the playing field for the people around you?
The relationship between you and your employees makes up the context - and the culture - of your business, and your inner state is part of that. Your authenticity invites and welcomes other people to be authentic as well.
Resources, books, and links mentioned in this episode:
BOOK | Jenny Vazquez-Newsum - Untapped Leadership: Harnessing the Power of Underrepresented Leaders
Visit Untapped Leadership and connect on Instagram, LinkedIn, and YouTube.
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About the Impact Driven Leader Podcast
The Impact Driven Leader Podcast, hosted by Tyler Dickerhoof, is for Xillennial leaders who have felt alone and ill-equipped to lead in today's world. Through inspiring interviews with authors from around the world, Tyler uncovers how unique leadership strengths can empower others to achieve so much more, with real impact.
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