1. Introduction: Leadership is the ability to influence and direct a diverse group of people towards a common goal, instilling in them to lean and draw from their own unique experiences, methods, and skills. Communication, problem solving, and mentoring are the pillars of my leadership philosophy.
2. Past Experiences: My leadership philosophy is drawn from my civilian work experience. These experiences allow me to lead with a different perspective and bring a diverse set of skills to the Coast Guard Reserve. My experiences have shaped not only what my leadership philosophy is but why I selected what I did.
a. In my civilian career as an accounting professional, communication has been key. It has been vital in any role I’ve held in these
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When reflecting on the supervisors I have had over my civilian career, mentoring, is an area that they either they excelled at or did not. Those that excelled in a mentoring, cultivated an environment where teammates thrived. During my time in healthcare, 15 years ago, I had an amazing supervisor and mentor. I was right out of high school and completely lost. The doctor took me under her wing as her mentee. A trait I noticed right away was her humility. She didn’t have to be the loudest person in the room. Her simple presence commanded a respect. She was incredibly smart, but she didn’t make anyone feel inferior. She was a true mentor because she was approachable and led with kindness. I had seen a fear-based approach to leadership up to this point, so her leadership style was completely foreign to me. She is the reason I went to college and where I am today. One of the highlights of my professional career was to supervise and lead over a dozen student workers during my time at Michigan State University from 2017 to 2020. I recruited, trained, and managed their day-to-day responsibilities. There were many instances where I was a trusted advisor as well. I had a student who was placed in my hometown for her first job rotation. Since I was very familiar with the area, I helped her search for apartments. It was rewarding to be part of her journey in a small way. My job was to teach them; however, they taught me too. This is what mentoring is all about. I was so fortunate to have a wonderful mentor and leader during a pivotable point in my life, so I want to pay that forward and bring this mentorship, servant leadership, and humility mindset to my