What are the elements of leadership? How can you develop an environment where everyone can blossom and collaborate toward mission success? Such were the questions I considered as Dr. Trevor Brown—Dean of the John Glenn College of Public Affairs at Ohio State University—turned the tables on me. A few months ago, Dr. Brown asked me to be a guest on his podcast, where we discussed what it means to be a leader in a complex organization.

In this episode, you’ll hear about my conversation with Dr. Brown where we discussed leadership and public service. I outline the key ingredients of leadership and explain why it is not a title. I describe my time at NASA and what it was like to be a woman in a male-dominated environment. I discuss why compelling and challenging leadership isn’t the only way to achieve excellence and how fostering the spirit of collaboration encourages growth. You’ll also learn what inspires me to serve and hear my advice to young people entering the world of public service.

“The elements of leadership are responsibility, situational awareness, and initiative; the more everybody brings these to the table, the better off any enterprise would be.” - Kathy Sullivan

This week on Kathy Sullivan Explores:

●     Being the most “vertical” person in the world

●     Defining leadership and its key ingredients

●     My time at NASA and what it’s like to be a woman in a male-dominated organization

●     How I learned to have initiative at NASA

●     Why being a “yes person” to appease someone’s ego is too risky

●     Compelling and challenging leadership and its impact

●     The organizational and leadership shifts I made when I became Chief Scientist at NOAA

●     Fostering confidence and initiative in a team

●     The skills and abilities required for a technical leader in a political environment

Resources Mentioned:

●     Leadership Forum Podcast with Dr. Trevor Brown

Our Favorite Quotes:

●     “Learn more and learn how to communicate effectively together.” - Kathy Sullivan

●     “Resolve that you’ll be a perpetual learner and not just an executor of work. Expand your radius to topics, people, communities, and places you don’t know.” - Kathy Sullivan

●     “You’re going to make mistakes and things will be messy; it’s the way of life and not a reflection of you. Take mistakes and setbacks as catalysts for new growth, not as a verdict.” - Kathy Sullivan

Related Content:

●     The Apollo 13 Mission with Gerry Griffin

Spaceship Not Required

I’m Kathy Sullivan, the only person to have walked in space and gone to the deepest point in the ocean.

I’m an explorer, and that doesn’t always have to involve going to some remote or exotic place. It simply requires a commitment to put curiosity into action.

In this podcast, you can explore, reflecting on lessons learned from life so far and from my brilliant and ever-inquisitive guests. We explore together in this very moment from right where you are--spaceship not required.

Welcome to Kathy Sullivan Explores.

Visit my website at kathysullivanexplores.com to sign up for seven astronaut tips to improving your life on earth and be the first to discover future episodes and learn about more exciting adventures ahead!

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