During the turnaround, I facilitated a reorganization from a power-driven hierarchical organization to an integrated multidisciplinary client-focused organization. This model – which later became widespread throughout the corporation – was embraced by some and fought by others. In order to promote the change, it needed to happen at the top with me.
Through reading, classes, and personal coaching I had a transformational experience that led me to sharing my personal learnings with my management team and staff members. I developed a leadership curriculum that has evolved into a proprietary training class called the Five Circles of Leadership.
Today, I contribute my turn-around success to learning first to lead myself (after all I was part of the problem), teaching talented design professionals the fiscal responsibility of running projects, and coaching them to learn their own leadership styles. I continue to practice these teachings to be my authentic self and share this curriculum and my experience with other companies.