New to the position of Vice President for Student Life at the University of Iowa, Melissa Shivers wanted to improve her leadership skills by deepening her knowledge of cultural dynamics. She attended Leading Change and Organizational Renewal at Harvard Business School Executive Education to do just that—but ended up gaining much more. She describes her experience in this interview.
What skills or insights were you hoping to gain in this program?
I hoped to come away with some tips and understanding about the significance of culture. Most people know that culture matters, but this program promised to delve into understanding and embracing culture as well as learning how to work within an unfamiliar culture. It delivered on that expectation—I walked away with a greater sense of the significance of culture as well as the understanding of how to live, exist, and thrive within a culture in order to be successful.
What were your biggest takeaways from this experience?
My biggest takeaway was a colloquialism that Professor Michael Tushman used: Culture will eat strategy for breakfast. That really scared me but reminded me of the significance of culture within an organization. I also realized how essential it is that we pay attention to culture—and individuals within an existing culture—in order to successfully navigate an institution or environment. In addition, the program made me think about some of the challenges that arise when a leader walks into a new position but doesn’t address or adapt their leadership style to that organization's culture.
Did that insight change how you approach leadership?
Absolutely. What worked at my former institution—the University of Tennessee—may not work at my current institution for many reasons. Also, the processes, systems, and methods are different in different institutions. The institutional types and culture of the environment certainly inform the practice and work of the university.
What challenges has the program helped prepare you for?
When I was attending the program, I learned that my university was facing a major budget reduction. I recognized the need to think about the role that my division could play in managing those cuts. The program inspired me and gave me the tools to develop a strategy, approach, and plan.
Before this program, I wouldn't have seen this challenge as an opportunity. Now, my staff and I are able to review our activities, determine their impact, and assess whether we should keep allocating resources to those activities. Through that process of assessment and evaluation, we are able to explore potential cost savings. This process also forced us to be more collaborative and assured that we were not duplicating services or programs across our division.
What was it like to step away from work in order to come to campus?
I thought it was going to be much more difficult than it actually was. I came to the program prepared in terms of the readings. So, after finishing dinner each evening, I had time to tackle work email or even have conversation with my staff. That allowed me to stay plugged into issues that needed more immediate attention. I felt like the schedule allowed me to balance everything and feel good about coming back to work.
You came to the program during a busy time at work. How did you gain the support you needed to attend?
First, I engaged with our university president, and he was incredibly supportive and a huge proponent of the program. He was very aware of the faculty members in the program and believed that it would be helpful for me to be exposed to this topic. Second, I was very transparent with my senior staff; I said that I needed to do this so that I could be a better leader for the team. There was vulnerability in saying that, but I thought it was important for them to know that I invest in my professional development and would do the same for them.
How did you benefit from the interactive nature of the program?
I appreciated that the program encouraged all of us to participate in our own way—whether that meant participating in discussions, spending time reading and processing the material, or thinking about how the material applied to our own work. There was space for each of us to engage where we felt most comfortable and what best suited our learning style.
What might you say to someone considering this program?
This was probably one of the most intense programs I've ever experienced, and participants should expect to be challenged. I'll be honest, when I was getting on the plane to come home, I thought to myself, "Oh my gosh, I've done so many things wrong. There is no way for me to fix them." What I realized is that you always have the ability to course correct. I learned that being willing and able to address those issues head-on is genuinely important.