Shanzeh Jooma

Everyday I continue to grow and learn new aspects of leadership. Diverse experiences have led me to where I am today as a leader. Leadership to me is all about serving and empowering others. There are several key principles that I believe serve as the basis for leadership. Leadership is all about being open-minded. Over the years I have been able to connect and build relationships with people who come from different backgrounds. Their perspectives have taught me so much about the importance of being a listener and opening your eyes to new perspectives. Diversity brings innovation and understanding among people, which is a powerful aspect of leadership. Intention is another important piece. Being purposeful with your actions will make the outcome much more satisfying. My true intent is what keeps me motivated as I practice leadership in my daily life.

 

Leadership was not always something that came naturally to me. My understanding of leadership has definitely evolved over time. As a high schooler, I had a very surface-level idea of the concept of leadership. The idea of leadership was actually quite intimidating to me. My exposure to leadership began at leadership conferences through ASB. I was able to build a foundation off the understanding that leadership was about service and treating people right. As I gained experience, I realized that there was so much more to leadership than I thought.

 

I have begun to think about my purpose, what motivates me, and how I can lead in different settings. Leadership is not always about the big man calling the shots from up front. Everyday leadership is present in all of our lives and we can learn from even those small experiences. I love being able to empower others to become leaders. My new definition of leadership could not have come to me if it hadn’t been for the diverse experiences that have allowed me to listen and learn from people from different backgrounds.