A champion of the servant leadership style and philosophy of leadership, I have served as a leader in the field of Career Development for more than 25 years, specializing in leading teams who are attuned to the career needs of college students. I was drawn to the concept of servant leadership because of its focus on “lifting others up” and honoring the distinct voices, talents, and desires of those you lead.
For decades, I have personally practiced this style of leadership in higher education, and I firmly believe servant leadership increases productivity, team bonding, and trust while enhancing creativity, reducing turnover, and ultimately building stronger teams. I would venture to say that those who reported to me over the years would underscore my assertions.
One of the greatest compliments bestowed on me by a direct report was when they were considering applying for another role but shared they did not want to end our supervisory relationship. I told this staff member that we would absolutely stay in touch, and I would be cheering them on as they reached new heights.
We did stay in touch, and they continue (to this day) to soar professionally.
My doctoral capstone focuses on specific behaviors of servant leaders in higher education, and I developed (as part of my extensive research with university leaders), the Servant Leadership Training Guide.
By serving as mentors and focusing on the growth and development of staff, servant leaders are pivotal in inspiring their team members to become self -actualized leaders themselves. These resources are intended for both current leaders and their team members who are the potential future servant leaders of tomorrow.
In terms of my professional background, prior to my current position as Director of Career Education at the University of California, Irvine (UCI), I served as Senior Counseling Manager for Pre-Professional Services at the UCLA Career Center where I assisted students in preparing and applying to graduate/professional schools with a specialization in pre-medical career planning.
Prior to my career with the University of California, l earned a master’s degree in counseling with a concentration in multicultural education at Loyola Marymount University (LMU). I also acquired private industry experience in financial services/advertising, having worked for a leading investment publication.
My work in the field of career services has been featured in many major publications, including Time Magazine (Joel Stein’s Awesome Column) and the Los Angeles Times. One of my favorite career development and leadership quotes which informs my work and I embrace daily (credited to legendary actor Sidney Poitier) is “Be true to yourself and useful to the journey.”
There has never been a more opportune time to explore the concept and benefits of compassionate heart-centered leadership and I hope you find these resources useful in your own development as a leader.
–Karol Johansen, EdD