Pahara-NextGen Fellowship
Thoughts on Leadership
Leaders must wake people out of inertia. They must get people excited about something they’ve never seen before, something that does not yet exist.
Thoughts on Leadership
Never mistake a clear view for a short distance.
Thoughts on Leadership
Creativity is just connecting things. When you ask creative people how they did something, they feel a little guilty because they didn’t really do it, they just saw something. It seemed obvious to them after a while. That’s because they were able to connect experiences they’ve had and synthesize new things. And the reason they were able to do that was that they’ve had more experiences or they have thought more about their experiences than other people. Unfortunately, that’s too rare a commodity. A lot of people in our industry haven’t had very diverse experiences. So they don’t have enough dots to connect, and they end up with very linear solutions without a broad perspective on the problem. The broader one’s understanding of the human experience, the better design we will have.
Fellow Perspective
Because of the [Pahara-Aspen] Fellowship, I am better connected to the education reform movement beyond my traditional circle as a school superintendent. For example, one of my thought partners is the CEO of a very successful CMO. As a result, both the district and the charter movement benefit greatly from sharing effective practices.
Fellow Perspective
If I hadn’t gone through this program, I’m not sure I would have felt up to taking on my current role. It was confidence-building and reaffirming; it helped me to unleash some talent that I didn’t have the opportunity to within my organization; I could flex some muscles that made me ripe to step into this role. And it gave me an incredible group of fellows for support and encouragement.
Thoughts on Leadership
The greatest danger in times of turbulence is not the turbulence; it is to act with yesterday’s logic.
Thoughts on Leadership
I cannot give you the formula for success, but I can give you the formula for failure, which is: Try to please everybody.
Fellow Perspective
The only experiences I’ve had that were more influential in my development as a leader are my 4 years at West Point, and my 7 year career as an Army officer. After these, the fellowship is the most important leadership development experience I’ve had. Over the last month, I’ve had critical conversations and debates with members of my cohort—in 4 different states—that will affect thousands of children.The fellowship experience has been invaluable to me as a leader.
Fellow Perspective
The [Pahara-Aspen] Fellowship has truly been one of the most valuable professional experiences I’ve had, chiefly because it’s given me the chance to develop strong relationships with a diverse group of the most outstanding leaders in the field…My organization and its work has benefited significantly from my participation, as have I personally.
Thoughts on Leadership
Every now and then a man’s mind is stretched by a new idea or sensation, and never shrinks back to its former dimensions.
Thoughts on Leadership
I would not give a fig for the simplicity this side of complexity, but I would give my life for the simplicity on the other side of complexity.
Thoughts on Leadership
Should you find yourself in a chronically leaking boat, energy devoted to changing vessels is likely to be more productive than energy devoted to patching leaks.
Thoughts on Leadership
Whatever you can do, or dream you can, begin it. Boldness has genius, power, and magic in it.
Thoughts on Leadership
This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy.
Thoughts on Leadership
The illiterate of the 21st Century will not be those who cannot read and write but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.
Thoughts on Leadership
Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.
Thoughts on Leadership
For every roadblock you experience, there is a successful detour or alternate route. You need to be positive and help people solve their problems. The most successful leaders are the ones with the greatest number of viable alternatives.
Thoughts on Leadership
If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.
Fellow Perspective
My Pahara-Aspen Fellowship gave me an unparalleled opportunity to step back from my day to day work. It offered me a vibrant place to explore what kind of leader I aspire to be with the support of, and challenges from, an unequaled group of peers. It’s an experience and a set of relationships I continually draw on as my organization continues to grow.
Fellow Perspective
The [Pahara-Aspen] Fellowship was by far the best leadership development experience I’ve participated in. Other programs mainly focused on technical and professional development. The Fellows was incredibly powerful because it forced me to develop a better understanding and appreciation for the values and principles that drive my leadership and aspirations, thus helping me to sustain my leadership passion and focus for the long term.
Thoughts on Leadership
In matters of style, swim with the current; in matters of principle, stand like a rock.
Fellow Perspective
After running 120 miles an hour for many years, the [Pahara-Aspen] Fellowship gave me a game changing reflection point — to examine critically what kind of a leader I was shaping up to be, the legacy I was creating, and my identity as a Latina in this space. I was also able to build a support network that has been a source of strength and support. As I reflect on the impact this experience had on me, it was without question what provided the rejuvenation, energy, clarity of direction, and vision that allowed me to meet my potential as a leader. I will forever be grateful for the opportunity.
Fellow Perspective
The [Pahara-Aspen] Fellowship was an incredibly important leadership experience that created a real inflection point for me, by pushing me to clarify my goals and aspirations, and my own sense of my capabilities, and also providing an amazing fellowship of supporters to encourage me as I stepped up to a greater level of leadership. Without the Fellowship I absolutely would not have stepped up to run for school board.
Fellow Perspective
The [Pahara-Aspen] Fellows Program was transformational. It helped me come to terms with some of the uncomfortable complexities and choices that I make in pursuit of building great schools… it brought me into the broader network of educational innovators, and it helped me connect the dots between my civic and private sector pursuits, as well as my personal growth.
Thoughts on Leadership
Leadership is solving problems. The day soldiers stop bringing you their problems is the day you have stopped leading them. They have either lost confidence that you can help or concluded you do not care. Either case is a failure of leadership.
Thoughts on Leadership
Treat people as if they were what they ought to be, and you will help them to become what they are capable of being.
Fellow Perspective
After 15 years as a CEO, I have a re-energized view of my role as a leader in the field. I am making decisions now that reflect both a greater urgency and more focus.
Fellow Perspective
The [Pahara-Aspen] Fellowship helps to re-energize valuable social leaders, and reinvests in their leadership for the marathon (or series of sprints). We need these people to stay committed for the long-haul, in a field that will take the energy they have and does not have the same support networks built in (business school alums, YPO, etc.)… I think that the real impact will be long-term as we all find ways to sustain ourselves as leaders.