Immersion Presentation

My final presentation captured my time shadowing Andy Morin at Avenir Cine, a local studio specializing in music video and fashion production. Observing Andy during this pivotal chapter—where he’s able to choose projects based on creative vision rather than profit—offered a powerful model of purpose-driven leadership. This experience also opened the door for me to collaborate with Buffalo State University students on the original TV pilot Be Happy, where I contributed as a puppeteer, illustrator, and graphic designer.

Magic vs. Mayhem

This paper offers a comparative analysis of the management styles of Walt Disney and Jim Henson, two visionary figures who revolutionized the landscape of animation and puppetry, respectively. Drawing on leadership theories including transformational, servant, transactional, and shared leadership, the paper explores how each man’s philosophy shaped their approach to team building, hiring and firing, commercial strategy, and long-term cultural impact. While Disney centralized authority and emphasized brand cohesion and commercial scalability, Henson championed collaborative creation, emotional intelligence, and a deeply relational work culture. Through this analysis, the study illustrates how divergent leadership styles can foster equally powerful legacies, offering valuable insights for contemporary creative leaders navigating the tension between innovation and institutionalization.

In-Class Teach-Back

For my in-class teachback, I presented chapters 15 and 16 of Bolman and Deal’s Reframing Organizations, leading a discussion on how to harmonize the structural, political, human resources, and symbolic frames—much like de Bono’s Six Thinking Hats. The chapters emphasized the importance of integrating multiple perspectives to strengthen leadership practice. One key takeaway for me was how strong organizational cultures foster shared values and habits of mind—a concept I would later put to the test in my LEAD 529 change project.