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LOOKING BACK
LOOKING BACK
Welcome to my Leadership Portfolio — a collection of the projects, research, and personal growth that has occurred over the last 24 months.
This program has been an odyssey in self-awareness and application, in learning to merge my creative instincts with strategic purpose. My leadership voice emerged gradually—through challenges, theories, and mentorship—until I could see that what I bring to teams and communities is not just design or direction, but alignment: a harmony between compassion, clarity, and creativity.
I'm excited to share this comprehensive review of my adventures through grad school. I hope visitors to this site will find some useful take aways for their own leadership growth.
MAKING CONNECTIONS
MAKING CONNECTIONS
As I look back on my time in the Leadership & Innovation program, I see a clear evolution—from self-awareness to system awareness, from introspection to integration. I entered this program seeking to understand how to lead; I leave knowing that leadership is an ever-evolving conversation between who we are and what the world needs from us.
I have learned that empathy is not a weakness, but a discipline. Creativity is not a luxury, but an infrastructure. Mentorship is not an afterthought, but a legacy. And vulnerability, when held with courage, is the bridge that connects us to others.
My leadership journey is far from complete, but I now have a clear compass. I aim to keep leading with curiosity, mentoring with generosity, and creating with integrity. Most of all, I will continue to see leadership as an act of service—an act of hope—and an act of love.
If I were to distill my leadership journey into a teachable point of view to share with peers and colleagues, it would be this: leadership is an act of creative care. It’s about tending the soil, not just harvesting results. Over the last two years, I’ve learned that the most effective leaders are those who can hold space for both people and process—who create conditions for others to contribute fully and joyfully.
Lead with compassion, not control. Teams flourish when leaders recognize humanity before productivity. As I wrote early in the program, “It is vital to remember that you have to properly tend to your team.” Compassion is not a soft skill; it’s a sustaining one.
Creativity is a form of leadership. Whether in a classroom, a design studio, or a film set, the creative process mirrors the leadership process: prototype, listen, refine, repeat. Innovation is born from curiosity and inclusion, not hierarchy. As I witnessed at Avenir Cine, “lead with values, not scarcity.
Play is powerful. Embracing playfulness has taught me that humor, wonder, and experimentation invite people to take risks and grow. As I wrote in my branding reflection, “Playfulness is not immaturity but curiosity.” It’s the spark that keeps culture alive.
WHAT'S NEXT
WHAT'S NEXT
I now approach leadership decisions through an ethical lens that balances compassion with accountability, and I think systemically about how culture, communication, and care are intertwined. Most importantly, I have learned to trust creativity as a legitimate mode of inquiry and innovation. My mission “to solve problems with creativity and compassion” now feels less like an aspiration and more like a way of being—a synthesis of everything this program set out to cultivate: a leader who designs with purpose, listens with empathy, and leads with imagination.
Produce The Hand Off
I aim to channel my graduate thesis research into the development of a full script for The Hand Off, completing a significant creative project that began in collaboration with Adam. This work will serve as both a tribute and an evolution of our shared vision, bolstering the art of puppetry through a non-traditional, yet deeply human story.
Fortify Daemen MarCom
As Daemen's Branding & Design team navigates upcoming transitions, I plan to strengthen our internal structure and clarify best practices that ensure long-term success. Through thoughtful leadership and storytelling, I will continue to elevate the university’s identity and presence in the hearts and imaginations of our community.
Bolster Puppetry in WNY
Building upon Adam’s legacy, I intend to expand access to puppetry in Western New York by producing community performances and educational experiences. By hosting cabarets and developing my own voice as a puppet artist, I hope to reposition puppetry as a vibrant art form for adult audiences.
Write Puppet Tears Book
I will compile and curate interviews from Puppet Tears: Puppetry Shop Talk into a cohesive book that honors the conversations and creative journeys behind the craft. Completing this project will mark a meaningful closure to an important chapter with Adam while challenging me to take on a project that both excites and intimidates me.
Return to Podcasting
After pausing my podcasting work during graduate school, I plan to return to hosting This Should Have Been a Phone Call, a show centered on authentic, heart-to-heart conversations with friends and creative heroes. Dedicating Tuesday evenings to this work will help me maintain a steady rhythm of meaningful, creative output.
Engage in Buffalo Film
I will continue to deepen my relationships within Buffalo’s film community, collaborating with local filmmakers to tell stories that reflect our region’s unique spirit. Through my 38 Gigabytes banner, I aim to write, produce, and support short films that strengthen the creative ecosystem I’m proud to be part of.
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