Impact-centered Leadership

November 22, 2022

The November 8 election proved to be historic in Massachusetts and elsewhere.  

In the Baystate, women won every statewide race, with one exception. Governor-elect Maura Healey is the first woman and first openly gay woman elected as governor in Massachusetts. She will be joined on Beacon Hill by Lieutenant Governor Kim Driscoll, State Treasurer Deb Goldberg, State Auditor Diana DiZoglio, and Attorney General Andrea Campbell, the first Black woman elected to statewide office in Massachusetts.

The road to 2022 for women was a long one; less than a dozen women have served in constitutional offices in Massachusetts.

These women will join other powerful political leaders like Ayanna Pressley, who was the first woman of color elected to Congress from Massachusetts, and Michelle Wu, the first woman and first person of color to win a race for Boston mayor.

And in Florida, another generational shift led to Maxwell Frost, the first Gen Z member of Congress, being elected to Florida’s 10th district.

This sea change in leadership is happening at a time of great uncertainty when our societal needs and the means to address them could not be more pressing. What the world needs now is leadership to effect meaningful change in the service of humanity. Leadership that is purposeful, fearless, selfless, resourceful, equity-minded, people-centered, and consequential — leadership that I define as being impact-centered.

Leaders focused on impact are willing and prepared to make sacrifices and suffer consequences in the service of others. They are bold and courageous and driven by values and a sense of purpose that is greater than themselves.

When I think of individuals who embody my definition of impact-centered leadership, I think of individuals who took courageous stands — often at great risk to themselves, their livelihoods, and in some cases their lives — to make the world a better place. I think of the young people, like John Lewis, who in 1964 were members of the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee, and were important contributors to the civil rights movement. I think of individuals like Tommie Smith and John Carlos, Black Olympians who in 1968 protested the plight of Black Americans, and were ostracized for their stance. And I think of countless unsung heroes who are educators, community organizers, entrepreneurs, and people from all walks of life willing to help their fellow humans, particularly in times of need.

The thread that connects us at Olin with courageous leaders like John Lewis and Maura Healey is an understanding that it takes time to see measurable impact. Our country is still seeing the impact of actions taken during the civil rights movement 60 years ago. Olin is just more than 25 years old. Our impact on engineering education — and on the world more broadly — is just beginning to be seen.

As we lead on an actionable path to a better tomorrow, let us be mindful of how fortunate we are to have been founded with the historic and generous gift of the F.W. Olin Foundation. This is a gift that enabled us to become who we are today, and that afforded us the luxury of starting from scratch, resourced and unburdened, in our quest to transform engineering education. Making good on that gift, it is our turn to give back to society in new, meaningful, and impactful ways.

My vision for Olin is that we, as individuals and as a community, embody this kind of leadership and serve as agents of change consistent with our values and mission. Guided by our strategic plan focused on impact-centered education, we are poised to set the example and serve as a model for higher education and the broader community. To that end, we must listen and learn, and we must take action that is grounded in careful and honest analyses of what can make a difference.