Reflect on a project or initiative you were involved in that had a significant positive impact on a community, organization, or individual. How did this experience shape your sense of responsibility as a future leader...?
Submarine Water Polo is an organization that brings water polo, a sport typically reserved for wealthier student-athletes, to underserved communities throughout Central Oklahoma. In my first season coaching, the attribute I strived to instill in my players was commitment. Though attendance was often out of their control, I wanted to illustrate the value of routine and dedication to an organization. I set our starting lineup based on practice attendance with no regard to skill; however, this wasn't the most practical approach, as evidenced by our winless first season.
In this past season, however, it quickly became evident that empathy needed to be prioritized. A player with autism joined the team. Initially, he struggled with his self-image as other kids mocked him behind my back. He wanted to quit. I couldn’t blame him. However, I believed staying on the team would teach him valuable life lessons and help him develop. I spoke with his mother and promised I would look out for him. I worked with him one-on-one to improve his hard skills and defense. With hard work, he slowly improved. I then addressed each player individually and asked them to help him feel welcomed. I made each player feel like I had individually entrusted them with creating an inclusive environment. By the end of the season, the new player loved coming to practice and was our star defender. He gained the respect of his teammates and the confidence to respect himself.
My experience at Submarine taught me how to be an effective leader in a large organization. An effective leader must both lead by example and also look out for those who might feel marginalized. Whether it is a water polo team or a large company, a successful organization must have the buy-in of every individual. A leader must ensure that each member feels they have an important role to play in achieving the organization’s goals. I learned this directly from my own players. When I asked each water polo player individually to help ensure that the new player felt welcome, it completely changed the team’s attitude. When players felt it was their responsibility to make the new player feel welcomed, I almost became obsolete as a coach because the other players began helping and coaching the new player.
In the long term, following my Kenan Flagler MBA and years in the widget investment industry, I plan to start my own generalist widget industry fund. While critical investment decisions would certainly still be my responsibility, I will bring my water polo experience to my company as well. I think an effective leader of a successful widget industry company must similarly make everyone feel they have an essential responsibility to ensuring the organization’s success. My responsibility as a future leader is to lead by example and make each member of the organization feel valued and important.