In this final episode of Season 6, I was joined by former student, long-time supporter of our sport management program, and outstanding Trinity University alumna (class of 2013), Veronica Oviedo. She is currently the Director of Marketing at Spurs Sports and Entertainment.

During our conversation Veronica spoke glowingly of mentors, of great leaders she's worked with, who shaped her outlook and approach to leadership. She "doesn't think titles matter" and the regular listeners will hear direct connections to The Leadership Challenge, and specific references to the DISC Behavioral tool and Hersey and Blanchard's Situational Leadership Model - all of which have been important elements of our class this year.

Veronica emphasizes that great leaders ask questions AND create space for others to ask questions. The way she describes her use of the job interview as a starting place to learn teammates' why and as the place where leadership development begins is truly inspiring - and quite frankly should be a model for leaders of all stripes and across any industry sector. She desribes her role as a leader who leads leaders and highlights that leaders must model vulnerability, self-awareness, and followership. Her people-centered approach to leadership is underscored when she describes that the leader and follower co-create the culture.

The conversation is high energy and so much fun for both Veronica and me.

To conclude the episode, I lectured on chapter 13 of the 10th edition of Peter G. Northouse's "Leadership: Theory and Practice." During the segment, I discuss Followership and its significant role in the leadership process.

I normally encourage listeners who aren't in the class to skip the lecture, but this time I'm actually imploring you to listen. Followership is a topic that NEEDS to be discussed and there are places in the lecture that might be good starting points for those conversations!

I hope you enjoy the episode. Drop me a note; I'd love to hear your thoughts so I can bring them into our class.