The Way Forward

With the election around the corner, the concept of leadership has been at the forefront of the national conversation. What makes a good leader? What does that look like? Can anyone do it? 

Regarding the last question, we think the answer is yes. Everyone has leadership potential, but it needs to be nurtured to blossom. So we decided to ask nine South Floridians in prominent roles what leadership advice they’d give the next generation, and we certainly weren’t disappointed by their insightful responses. Read – and lead – on.

Lincoln Mendez

CEO, Boca Raton Regional Hospital

Mendez served as CEO of South Miami Hospital for nine years and Doctors Hospital for 14 years. He was tapped as CEO of Boca Regional in 2019.

My advice is to lead by example and always be transparent. Leadership is based on trust, and trust isn’t built overnight. It requires time, diligence, sincerity and character. You must be willing to do what is right rather than what is easy. Even when it’s difficult, you must speak the truth – not just what you think people want to hear. An effective leader asks questions, listens carefully, follows through on commitments and can adapt amid chaos.

Barbara Schmidt

Founder, Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life

This businesswoman, philanthropist and spiritual teacher founded the Peaceful Mind Peaceful Life nonprofit in 2011, teaching spirituality for today’s world. She has studied with Deepak Chopra.

Remember that, when people know that they are seen, heard and appreciated, they do more than expected. Treat interns with the same kindness as you would a CEO. People perform their best when they feel valued and respected. When you acknowledge untapped potential in people, they will rise to meet it. Never let good work go unappreciated.

Ava Parker

President, Palm Beach State College

Prior to joining Palm Beach State in 2015 as its first female president, Parker was executive vice president and chief operating officer at Florida Polytechnic University.

Lead through collaboration. Frequently engage your team to identify solutions so that everyone is invested in the ultimate goal. You are more likely to get support and buy-in if the entire team has a stake in the process and outcome. A collaborative effort will also lead to higher productivity throughout the organization.

John Kelly

President, Florida Atlantic University

In 2014, Kelly – who spent 28 years as a professor and administrator at Clemson University – became the seventh president of FAU, improving private gifting, athletics, research expenditures and more.

I would echo the popular saying, ‘If you love what you do, you’ll never work a day in your life.’ I truly believe that you’ll never run out of energy when you’re working toward the greater good of something that you’re passionate about, and, thus, your ability to inspire others and create positive change will be limitless.

Ellyn Okrent

CEO, Florence Fuller Child Development Centers

Equipped with a background in child welfare, Okrent started working at the nonprofit in 2012, serving more than 900 at-risk children a year on two Boca Raton campuses.

My leadership tip is transparency, inclusiveness and empowerment. I find that, when my team is aware of what is going on, has personal responsibility for the outcome and is empowered to make decisions and carry out the task, we are all more competent, successful and fulfilled in our partnership with each other and in our accomplishments.

Irvin Lippman

Executive director, Boca Raton Museum of Art 

Lippman served as interim director of the museum from February to July 2014, when he was named executive director. Previously, he was director of the Museum of Art, Fort Lauderdale.

It helps to have empathy. Understanding other points of view is the ‘ground zero’ in the art world, where one quickly learns the lesson that any one work can be seen from multiple perspectives and interpretations. Empathy comes from looking and listening, and it results in a closer appreciation of one another, even when views are diametrically opposed. Using art as a metaphor: If everyone saw everything the same way, life would be just an endless reproduction. Empathy reveals the complexities, the richness and even the beauty of the people around us.

Yolette Bonnet

CEO, FoundCare

A dedicated advocate for universal healthcare services, Bonnet was brought on as CEO and a founding member of FoundCare, a funded federally qualified health center established in 2001.

Learn how to delegate. To be a successful leader, you must accept that you can’t do everything yourself. You must delegate tasks to people with the right skillset and the motivation to get the job done right. If you don’t have employees you can trust to do the job right, you aren’t hiring the right people. To delegate successfully, you have to stay involved, evaluate task performance, allow mistakes, correct them accordingly and, most importantly, avoid micromanaging.

Cristy Stewart-Harfmann

President, Junior League of Boca Raton

As 2019-2021 president, Stewart-Harfmann leads nearly 800 members, who will be celebrating the league’s 50th anniversary next year. She’s been an active member for 15 years.

Know your why. Your why is your purpose. It is what makes you unique. Once you know your why, you can lead by using your strengths and passion. In turn, you will stay energized. You can lead regardless of your title, so start today! Everyone wants to know that their work is appreciated. You can never say thank you enough. Make sure you take time to show your gratitude to everyone around you and celebrate even the small wins every day.

Bill Donnell

President and CEO, NCCI

Donnell has more than 30 years of industry experience and took the helm of NCCI – a nationwide provider of workers compensation information, tools and services – in 2015.

Be authentic. There are many different definitions of authentic leadership. My view is to be authentic by connecting with people, asking for feedback, acknowledging that you don’t have all the answers and, lastly, showing your team that you are human and have passions outside of work. O