Prevalent in modern education is the cognitive theory, based on Gestalt psychology, that “the whole is more than the sum of its parts.” Twenty-first century leadership requires this same kind of thinking. We need individuals, or groups, coming together to create something bigger than they could create on their own; bringing groups together and leveraging their collective knowledge, relationships and resources for bigger and better mutual outcomes That is, we need collaborative leadership that adds up to more than the sum of its parts.

In my office is a tall figurine of my favorite super hero:  Wonder Woman.  My staff members gave it to me as a birthday gift.  When I received it, one of them said, "No one can see that cape you have on, but we truly admire how you balance it all".

We all know that an organization needs strong leadership to get the most out of employees. In fact, the relationship between leaders and their teams is foundational for all workplace performance. That’s why companies invest millions each year in training for managers to communicate better, set effective goals, and measure results. Yet, even when managers do these things well, many still miss the mark on unleashing the tremendous talent that is in their team. Why is that? Is breakthrough performance really reserved for just the rare few exceptional leaders among us? What do they know that the rest of us don’t?

The CHL Academy experience was in a way a coming of age moment for me. I never really gave any thought to the idea that my Hispanic heritage had been so instrumental in my personal journey through corporate America. While I have always been keenly aware of my hispanicity and how I define myself within its context, I had never really reflected and identified how it affected, shaped, and continues to shape my management style. There are leadership programs that focus on leveraging strengths, but CHL Academy has afforded me, for the first time in my professional career, an opportunity to personally delve into, and conclusively identify the genesis of my ability to lead. Through CHL Academy, I was able to see clearly how and why my background was a breeding ground for honing my skills as a leader.

My experience with CHL Academy was something I will never forget. It has propelled my career to new levels and continues to be a foundation of learning for me.