An Unconventional Journey….. An Unlikely Choice
by
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Introduction:
I have the distinct honor of serving as a President and CEO of a Health sciences university. My journey to this role has had considerable twists and turns, full of challenge, intrigue, and trepidation. My experiences along the way have shaped a style of leadership which has prevailed, albeit sometimes challenged depending upon the circumstances. I must admit, I did not start out with any particular “style” of leadership but some basic principles of how to treat people and how I would want to be treated. Following the Golden Rule was instilled in me as a child and it has shaped the approach and style of leadership that I bring with me to every environment and encounter.
The Golden Rule typically refers to treating others the way one would want to be treated. It is often associated with religious teachings and is an ethical code or guiding principle that has informed humanitarian efforts. Perhaps this Golden Rule is reflected in the Bible in Luke 10:27 as Jesus states, “You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your souls and with all your strength and with all your mind and your neighbor as yourself”.
There are several other versions of the Golden Rule which you can find in many religious and philosophical traditions…. For purposes of this document, I plan to keep it simply stated, e.g., “treating others the way you would want to be treated”.
The basis for sharing my lessons learned along my career journey are intentional in helping you to find comfort in yourself as well as striving for success in all that you do. There is no “perfect” style of leadership, but perhaps some of the lessons learned along the way for me can be enlightening and inspirational to you along your own journey. I find that I have been on somewhat of an unconventional journey but yet, still, MY journey. I also have found that whereas I may have initially considered myself an unlikely choice for presidential leadership, there are lessons learned along the way that will cause me to delete the scripts of doubt which sometimes hold us all back.
I continue to grow and learn more about myself as I journey along the way and I also find that the lessons learned continue to expand as time goes on. So I continue to be a work in progress, and that is just fine! This is my unconventional journey… with a presumption of being an unlikely choice for leadership.
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About the Book
This is a story of perseverance and awakening.
As a child, Angela Walker Franklin faced clear expectations for
success from very supportive and engaged parents, yet self-doubt and trepidation continued to raise its ugly head along the way. She was steadfast and determined in her journey, which took several twists and turns until she “let go and let God” order her steps.
This journey evolved into a purpose-driven life that led her to a
college presidency in a most unlikely place. The lessons learned along the way have defined her current approach to leadership
and should be inspirational to others who are trying to
chart their own path.
About the Author
About the author: Angela L. Walker Franklin, a native of McCormick, South Carolina, received her undergraduate degree in psychology from Furman University and her Ph.D. in clinical psychology at Emory University.
Angela currently serves as president and chief executive officer of Des Moines University (DMU) in Des Moines, Iowa. She was appointed the 15th president of DMU and began in March 2011. DMU is a health sciences university that has existed for more than 100 years with a singular mission to improve lives in our global community by educating diverse groups of highly competent and compassionate health professionals. The institution offers nine graduate degree programs in three colleges with a total enrollment of approximately 1,800 full- and part-time students.
Angela and her husband, Thaddeus, have three sons, Wesley, Grant and Jordan.