Jayleen De La Cruz
Staff Writer
Louise Kelly, professor of management and leadership, presented “Unleashing the Authentic Leadership of Hispanic Managers in the US Context Through Emotional Intelligence, Resiliency, and Mindfulness” Tuesday in the Quay Davis Board Room.
The presentation focused on “building blocks” of becoming an authentic leader.
“Leading according to your values and being willing to listen to the other side is the type of leadership that a work environment should have,” Kelly said.
Her research focuses specifically on the Latinx community and emphasizes that Hispanics are not monolithic.
“Hispanic people that you find in Miami are going to be completely different from the ones in Los Angeles as most of the people from Miami are Cuban and in Los Angeles (they are) Mexican,” Kelly said.
Kelly said that her focus is on helping Hispanic leaders, who make up 20% to 30% of the corporate world, to learn more about authentic leadership.
She said authentic leadership is when a person has self-awareness, an intellectual mind, rational transparency and a balanced process.
Kelly said that older generations are hesitant to adapt to this way of leadership, while the younger generations are open to learning new ways of thinking and approaching a subject to make sure that everyone within a group feels heard.
In Hispanic communities, “machismo y marianismo,” or the notion that some jobs are for men and others are for women, is a major consideration when it comes to teaching this new style of leadership to upcoming and already established Hispanic leaders.
Authentic leadership can foster a more versatile work environment, Kelly said.
At the end of her presentation, Kelly reiterated that being an authentic leader is being able to connect with your emotions, life experiences and values, all of which makes one a better leader.
“All students should figure out who they are as a leader, and they don’t necessarily have to be the president or a manager,” said Julissa Espinoza, director of the University’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement, who attended the talk. “Everyone has the potential to be in a leadership position one way or another, and I think it is important for students to have a little self-reflection and figure out who they are.”
“Learning about the different kinds of leadership styles is making me realize how to approach and work with people more effectively,” said Machaela McLain, junior criminology major, who attended the lecture. “I now know that just because I have a certain leadership style, does not mean that other forms are wrong.”
Jayleen De La Cruz can be reached at jayleen.delacruz@laverne.edu.
Jayleen De La Cruz is a sophomore communication major with a concentration in public relations and a staff writer at the Campus Times for Fall 2023.
