By Justin Grass
Students drew leadership qualities from the example of Nelson Mandela March 28 on NE Campus.
As part of the Student Leadership Academy series, NE learning lab manager Jared Landin’s “Empowering Others” presentation allowed students to discuss the qualities of the late South African leader that made him successful.
Landin led the discussion about Mandela’s strong points.
“Nelson Mandela was always aware of the message he was pushing,” Landin said. “He knew that he was a leader … that he was being lifted up as a symbol of a movement and, therefore, that a lot of responsibility fell on his shoulders.”
In preparation for the session, students read Mandela’s autobiography Long Walk to Freedom.
“Whenever you are leading a group of people,” Landin said, “every single decision that you make, every single thing that you say, every action, all of it is viewed by your group. And if you’re representing yourself properly … it’s going to make it easier to achieve your goals as a group.”
Landin introduced students to the idea of a transformational leader, an impactful leader on a large scale such as Mandela. Students discussed their own individual definitions of a transformational leader.
NW and SE student Bertrand Ndizeye described a transformational leader as someone “who leads a movement that brings a positive change.” Ndizeye said Mandela’s ability to stick to his beliefs and his movement through intense adversity was the most valuable leadership quality he gained from the discussion.
NE student GeLisha Alexander said “the fact of staying [with his beliefs] no matter what” was one of the most valuable qualities Mandela possessed.
“I love that part,” she said.
