2023 Warren Bennis Leadership Experience emphasizes interdisciplinary leadership
Keynote speaker Betsy Myers headlines sixth annual event
Leadership instruction and development of all forms were on display last week at the Warren Bennis Leadership Experience.
The Warren Bennis Leadership Experience (WBLE) aims to transform students into leaders through the works and teachings of Warren Bennis, the University of Cincinnati’s 22nd president and the “Father of Leadership.” The WBLE is part of the student leadership development mission fashioned by the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute (WBLI), which will formally launch this coming fall.
The sixth annual WBLE was held in Tangeman University Center’s Great Hall and featured keynote speaker Betsy Myers, a leadership author and consultant who worked for two United States presidents. Myers is also the founding director of the Center for Women and Business at Bentley University.
WBLE President Alex Mason, A&S ’23, opened the event — welcoming all UC students, staff and faculty interested in leadership — by stressing the impact Bennis has had on his life.
“I never met Warren Bennis, but I feel like I know him,” Mason said. “I am inspired by him, motivated by him, captivated by him.”
In 2018, Mason reluctantly volunteered for the WBLE but left the event a changed person.
“I came into that night an unmotivated, uninvolved senior in high school who did not know what he wanted to do with his life,” he recalled. “As I listened to the speakers, heard from Kate Bennis, felt the excitement, enjoyed the team atmosphere and felt the passion, it inspired me and challenged me. It changed the way I view myself, the way I view my experiences and the way I create my goals. It changed the way that I view conversations with strangers, the way I view relationships with people and the way I look to lead people.
“Warren taught me that night to really prioritize knowing myself and who I am, and how that translates into action and leadership.”
New scholarships awarded
Kate Bennis, daughter of the late Warren Bennis, took to the stage and first gave thanks to her father’s former associates and friends in the crowd, including Tom Humes, Bruce Hopple, Neil Novak, Jay Chatterjee and Joan Lindhardt Plunkett. She also expressed gratitude to Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, PhD, and Thornburgh Academic Director Donna Chrobot-Mason, PhD, as well as to the WBLE student team.
“I know that he really deeply felt that the thing that he did best was teach,” Kate Bennis said.
She then presented a trio of WBLI-sponsored “Leaders Are Made” scholarships to Austin Castle, BBA ’25, Sarah Hassan, COM ’26, and Rigbe Zemicael, BS, DAAP ’23.
Myers helms wide-ranging leadership discussion
Lewis and Myers followed Kate Bennis with a leadership-focused dialogue that began with Myers’ friendship with Warren Bennis. He helped Myers with her book, “Take the Lead: Motivate, Inspire, and Bring Out the Best in Yourself and Everyone Around You,” during her time at the Center for Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School.
The discourse then went on to highlight “crucible” moments in Myers’ past, inclusive leadership, how student leaders are made and the state of workplace culture.
“People want to be valued or they will leave,” Myers said. “Millennials are changing the way we think about work.”
The conversation shifted to audience members, who were tasked with sharing a story of someone in their lives who served as inspiration, motivated them or made them want to be a better person.
Chrobot-Mason wrapped up the evening by outlining WBLI’s three-pronged vision for the future:
- Student Leadership Development: Leadership courses, workshops and events, including the annual Warren Bennis Leadership Experience.
- Executive Education: Leadership training and executive education for both for-profit and non-profit community members.
- Leadership Scholarship & Research: Interdisciplinary research to examine and improve the leadership development process and outcomes.
Women supporting women
Prior to the WBLE, WBLI hosted “Building a Culture of Collaboration — Women Supporting Women” at Lindner Hall. Lewis began the women’s leadership event by recounting her founding of Lindner Women in Business as an associate dean and developing a women’s leadership group during her tenure as dean of Cass (now Bayes) Business School, City, University of London.
“This is a room full of remarkable student leaders, remarkable university leaders and remarkable Cincinnati leaders,” Lewis observed.
Chrobot-Mason explained the intent and outline of the session. The event featured three rounds of group discussion followed by a full-audience discussion centered around three question prompts:
- Why do you think women undercut other women?
- When is a time another woman went out of her way to help you? When have you done the same? Why?
- Why is a culture of abundance and cooperation important, and how do we cultivate it?
Jane Sojka, PhD, marketing professor-educator and undergraduate marketing program director, noted that “women are unique and equal, and it is very rare that we see leadership from a female perspective.”
“Our differences are our strengths, and that’s exactly why we brought Betsy here today,” Sojka said.
Myers moderated the full-audience discussion, which resulted in various action items or tactics for attendees to consider:
- Promoting advocacy
- Avoiding gossip
- "Sharing the wealth" — bragging on someone else and sharing materials with others
- Teaching women conflict resolution skills
- Challenging assumptions by seeking the truth
“One thing I can say about my career is that it has had one north star: anything and everything to do with women,” Myers said. “All the jobs that I’ve had through government, politics, academia and now my own business, I’ve always had a fascination with women’s leadership.”
Featured image at top: From left: Lindner Dean Marianne Lewis, PhD; Kate Bennis; 2023 WBLE keynote speaker Betsy Myers; and Thornburgh Academic Director Donna Chrobot-Mason, PhD. Photos by Lauren Meisberger unless otherwise noted.
Learn more about the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute
Warren Bennis, UC’s 22nd president and also known as the “Father of Leadership,” believed leaders were made, not born. Launching this fall, the Warren Bennis Leadership Institute will harness Bennis’ legacy to transform leaders for a better tomorrow, providing all students with leadership development opportunities such that they graduate as problem solvers, believing in their potential to lead.
Related Stories
CINCINNATI ENQUIRER: Colleges Pushing 3-year Degrees
December 7, 2011
Getting students to graduate in three years is on the rise in colleges around Greater Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky.
Carl H. Lindner College of Business Marketing Professor Shares Branding Principles with Doctors
December 15, 2011
UC Department of Radiology seminar highlights importance of branding in the health care sector.
BUSINESS COURIER: Goering s Gift Lets University of Cincinnati Expand Family Biz Efforts
December 15, 2011
Thanks to a $1 million endowed professorship, a gift from John and Gloria Goering, the University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business will add a unique family and private business certificate to its business school curriculum.
Renewed Accreditation for UC's Carl H. Lindner College of Business
January 2, 2012
The AACSB again deems the college a distinguished institution of excellence in business education.
Two UC Carl H. Lindner College of Business Students Nominated for Truman Scholarship
January 4, 2012
Prestigious national award could bring money for higher education.
UC Marketing Students Collaborate for Cincinnati Recreation Commission
January 8, 2012
Marketing students from UC Carl H. Lindner College of Business answer call to craft advertising plan.
Cincy Magazine and the UC Carl H. Lindner College of Business Team to Present Power 100 Leadership Forum
January 10, 2012
Inaugural forum hosts powerful business, political and community leaders in Tristate.
UC Graduate Students To Tackle Global Poverty in Case Competition
January 17, 2012
Several top 100 MBA programs the Carl H. Lindner College of Business among them vie for first place in international case competition.
UC Carl H. Lindner College of Business Faculty Earn Leavey Award
January 18, 2012
The pair is among three university faculty to receive national recognition.
The University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business and LUCRUM, Inc. Co-host Quarterly Business Intelligence Symposium Series
January 19, 2012
The University of Cincinnati Carl H. Lindner College of Business has teamed with LÛCRUM, Inc., a leading Data Analytics consulting firm and industry thought leader based in Cincinnati to provide a series of quarterly Business Intelligence (BI) Symposia.