Dr. Ian Williamson, Dean of UC Irvine’s Paul Merage School of Business, shares how he applies his assessment framework to both his leadership role and the organizations he advises. He explains that, whether leading an academic institution or consulting with companies, success depends on regularly understanding the external environment, evaluating operational health, and aligning strategy with future trends.

• He applies the same logic to organizational assessment: identify external shifts, sense them early through the right advisors, and translate insights into strategy, hiring, and service design
• His talent management philosophy includes building internal capabilities (“making”) alongside acquiring new talent (“buying”) to create sustainable performance

Williamson’s approach highlights that effective leadership requires continual reflection on where time is spent, awareness of the environment’s influence, and disciplined adjustments to remain relevant. – The Business of Creativity Podcast – Tai M. Brown