What does it take to lead?
There are many kinds of leaders from all walks of life, but how does one define the qualities they all share? What inspires, what drives, what challenges someone, anyone, to become a leader?
What is the very essence of leadership?
The Essence of Leadership will ask a diverse group of leaders to reveal their drive, passion and goals to you, our audience. In addition, The Essence of Leadership event kicks off our new ongoing Leadership Salon Series, a monthly series of smaller, more intimate events that we hope will both inspire new leaders and allow you to network with a group of local movers and shakers who have defined what it means to take a leadership role in their field or community.
Moderator: During his 11 years as a member of Pittsburgh’s City Council,
Sala Udin became known as the voice for the underserved and disenfranchised. He led the city's contracting of a disparity study, which resulted in an unprecedented number of underrepresented groups obtaining jobs or construction contracts for the demolition of Three Rivers Stadium and the construction of PNC Park and Heinz Field. And he led a citywide referenda to amend the City Charter to include the Citizen Police Review Board and another to create a jobs program called Pittsburgh Works.
Now, as president and CEO of the Coro Center for Civic Leadership, Sala Udin prepares individuals for effective and ethical leadership in the public.
Mickey McManus is president and CEO of MAYA Design, a design consultancy and innovation lab dedicated to taming the complexity of technology products. He leads an interdisciplinary team that creates innovative ways to integrate information and technology into a satisfying consumer experience. He speaks often about the need to include the human element in design, especially in the looming multi-billion dollar pervasive computing industry, which will encompass a multitude of networked products and smart services throughout our environment. Mickey was formerly cofounder and senior vice president of creative vision and strategy at élan communications, an integrated communications consultancy.
Lindsay Hyde is the founder and executive director of Strong Women, Strong Girls, Inc., a Boston-based mentoring program that works to inspire young women to change the world. Hyde started the program in 2000 as a Harvard freshman looking for a way to pass the knowledge, strength and inspiration of strong women in history and the local community on to elementary school-age girls. The 7-year-old program has achieved tremendous success, earning Hyde numerous awards including a 2007 National Jefferson Award, the ‘Nobel Prize’ for public service.
In 2007, 45 students from Carnegie Mellon University, the University of Pittsburgh and Duquesne University volunteered as mentors to more than 150 girls throughout Pittsburgh’s city schools.
The Honorable
John Fetterman, came to Braddock in the 90s as an Americorps volunteer after completing his Harvard education, and decided to stay. Inn 2001, Fetterman started a program helping youth attain GED certification and find employment. Then, in 2005, he ran for mayor and won. His leadership focuses on three things: improving the quality of life for young people in Braddock, attracting the kind of outside energy, ideas, and interest from the artistic, urbanist, and creative communities, and subverting the $2.5 billion Mon-Fayette Expressway designed to run straight through the middle of Braddock.
Fetterman’s efforts in his first term are paying dividends for the Braddock community. Creation of a large community center and a major piece of public art are in the works. A garden now sits on what was once one of the town’s most prominent overgrown lots. And an influx of activity and interest of all sorts from outsiders is generating a upswing in attention for this Southwestern PA municipality.
Save the Date!The Essence of Leadership event kicks off our new ongoing Leadership Salon Series, a monthly series of smaller, more intimate events that we hope will both inspire new leaders and allow you to network with an amazing group of local movers and shakers who have defined what it means to take a leadership role in their field or community. First up, Patrick Dowd, of City Council.
Leadership Salon No. 1
Speakers: Patrick Dowd
Location: City Council Building, Downtown
Date: Monday, May 5, 2008
Time: 6:30 PM