“When we surrender our egos, stop finger-pointing, and invite everyone to the table, we create space for meaningful progress.”
What is your connection with Coro?
I’m an AHLN (Affordable Housing Leadership Network) 2025 alumnus.
What is a memory from your Coro experience and training that you still think about today?
I often reflect on the first couple of sessions, when we were each asked to bring an item to which we were emotionally attached. Starting with this uniquely humanizing exercise helped everyone drop their guard, open up, and be vulnerable. It set the tone for authentic connection and deepened our shared learning experience from the very beginning.
What is one of Coro’s leadership principles, frameworks, or tools you continue to apply to your leadership practice today? For what reasons does this particular one stand out for you?
The Balcony Perspective continues to shape how I lead. In my consulting work with emerging and growing development firms, I regularly engage with executive and partner-level staff who believe they’re facing isolated technical problems. But when I ask them to step back and join me “on the balcony,” they begin to see the root causes—often adaptive in nature—and shift their focus from quick fixes to more transformative, systemic solutions. That perspective shift is powerful.
What are the two most important leadership qualities that people need to create our shared future?
- Humility. I’ve seen titles and bureaucracy get in the way of real problem-solving. When we surrender our egos, stop finger-pointing, and invite everyone to the table, we create space for meaningful progress.
- Holistic Perspective. We need the ability to see beyond our informational and professional silos and address challenges through a systems lens. As I like to say, “You can’t see the homes for the housing.” Recognizing the bigger picture allows us to lead more effectively and equitably.
