By Michelle Maldonado
Associate Vice President of Corporate and Strategic Relationships, American Public University System
In the summer of 2012, my ever-growing urge to be a part of something new, impactful and transformative was at an all-time high.
As I continued evolving what that would be and what it would look like, I had a light-bulb moment when I discovered what would be my first step. By November, the first issue of The Authentic Leadership Series was born. Over the past 14 months, we’ve spoken with talented people from various industries and varying stages of the professional lifecycle to discuss leadership principles, concepts and
practices that help each of us lead and live more authentically. In our Year-In-Review, we switch the tables, and our Senior Writer, James Thompson, interviews me about the genesis of The Authentic Leadership Series, the insights gleaned during its inaugural year and what’s on the horizon for 2014.
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Q: What inspired you to create The Authentic Leadership Series?
Michelle: I’ve always had a personal affinity for people who were able to balance and integrate both technical and nontechnical abilities as they navigated work and life’s terrain. It takes a great amount of courage, compassion, self-awareness and self-management—something that is often missing across leadership ranks. In watching and associating with these professionals, I learned a great deal about what it means to be a positive influence and to affect transformation (and success) at the individual and institutional levels. And when the organization (or team) wins, we all win.
Read on to learn more about the origins and insight of The Authentic Leadership Series – along with what’s in store for 2014, “Navigating the Leadership Labyrinth: A Transformational Year in Review“.
About Michelle:
Michelle Maldonado is a former corporate attorney with more than 17 years of leadership experience in strategic planning, operations and partnership development across the e-learning, technology and online media industries. She currently serves as Associate Vice President of Corporate and Strategic Relationships for American Public University (APU) and is the creator and editor of The Authentic Leadership Series. Michelle is passionate about talent development, coaching and the mentoring of professionals to support organizational success and sustainability. Utilizing an authentic and consultative approach, Michelle collaborates with industry organizations to form education alliances that support overall talent and institutional growth strategies. She also represents APU in conferences and other venues on the topic of leadership authenticity and its convergence with emotional intelligence, mindfulness and other “conscious leadership” practices that inspire culture transformation. Michelle’s work has been featured in Chief Learning Officer, Human Capital Insights, Leadership Excellence, and Training magazines.
To learn more about how American Public University’s programs and services may help you with your talent development and retention strategies, please visit: www.StudyAtAPU.com/Solutions or contact Michelle at mmaldonado@apus.edu.
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