| Q. |
Are there any simple truths you have found about leadership
or leaders? |
| A. |
First, leadership absolutely can be taught. No
question. Second, leadership is a value system
more than a skill base. It requires interest
in valuing input from all kinds of people and getting
rid of hierarchy. I don't mean formally—you
can have formal hierarchy—but regardless of the
formal hierarchy, it requires that you listen to people
at all levels.
|
| Q. |
You were president of the HBS
club of Northeast Ohio in the 1997/1998 time frame. What
did the club do well at the time you were president? |
| A. |
Well, during the time I was president, we began the
push to get the worldwide alumni conference to Cleveland
in 2001. I personally wasn't instrumental
in this, but it was neat to see people come together
to make this happen.
|
| Q. |
What does the Club do well now and where do you think
it could improve? |
| A. |
I really value the knowledge it makes available to
me. As far as improving, I don't know that
it can. It's a great club and it has great
support and a tremendous administrative structure.
I guess it would be wonderful if Cleveland could grow
faster and have more jobs, then we could be a bigger
club.
|
| Q. |
What is the best HBS-NEO event you have attended? |
| A. |
I think the best is the Business Statesman award the
year Al Ratner won. How much energy he had! His
speech was very memorable.
|
| Q. |
Who are some of northeast Ohio's
great current or past leaders? |
| A. |
Al Ratner, certainly. He was the impetus behind
Forest City's renovation of Tower City which
was so important at the time it was done. Downtown
Cleveland wouldn't have had a prayer without
it. He's been tremendous for the community. Also,
Bill Seelbach and Richard Shatten, two of the founding
members of Cleveland Tomorrow, were pivotal. Cleveland
Tomorrow did tremendous things for this community.
|
| Q. |
What kind of leaders does it take to turn Cleveland
from the most impoverished city in the nation to a thriving
city? |
| A. |
I think it takes an organization like the Greater Cleveland
Partnership to focus on this issue of leadership, and
leading the city towards something better. You
need non-profits as well as corporations with big budgets
to work towards this change together. |
| Q. |
What's your favorite artistic,
athletic, scholastic, or other organization here in
town? |
| A. |
Without question it is Case Western Reserve University.
Having spent two years at the Mandel school, I have developed
the utmost respect for what the new president of Case,
Ed Hundert, is trying to do. He's a psychiatrist
by training, of course, so has the orientation to be
an incredible leader, in my opinion. |
| Q. |
What are some of your hobbies and interests? |
| A. |
Mostly I just love the Leadership Company. I
read about leadership. I talk about it. And
I love social work, too. Plus, animals are kind
of a hobby, I suppose. I volunteer at an animal
shelter sometimes, but I try to go less often because
I always bring one home with me. |
| Q. |
How many pets do you have? |
| A. |
I can't tell you. You'll think I'm
a crazy cat woman. Just write that I have six pets
and leave it at that. |
Programs 