Curiosity #20 - Learning to Lead (with some UGA friends!)

🎤 Quotable quotes: "Leadership is nurturing the heart, because to lead is to connect on a personal level." - Stacy Campbell

This week on Leadership Rules, we sat down with Stacy Campbell, Director of UGA’s Institute for Leadership Advancement (ILA), along with students Robert Black and EB Billig. They didn’t just share their leadership journey—they showed us what’s possible when young people develop personal leadership early, all while bringing a strong dose of Georgia Bulldog spirit.

This Week’s Musing: Unleashing Leadership Potential with ILA

Robert and EB both expressed something we’ve long believed: understanding yourself is the foundation of great leadership. And they feel incredibly fortunate to have started that journey sooner rather than later.

It got us thinking—what if more students had this kind of head start?

Our conversation covered:

🚀 Personal Growth – Leadership isn’t just about titles; it’s about evolving into the best version of yourself.

🌍 Creating Impact – Learning to lead means learning to make a difference—beyond the classroom, beyond the office.

⚡ Turning Theory into Action – One reason we love talking about Ted Lasso? It’s not just theory—it’s leadership in motion, just like what Robert and EB are experiencing.

🔍 Reflecting for Success – As Robert and EB shared, doing the work to understand yourself is key to unlocking your full potential.

We know these lessons apply anywhere, and if you know a student who’s ready to step up, this episode is one they won’t want to miss.

More leadership musings

🍪 Biscuits with the Boss: "What's the best piece of advice you've ever received, and how has it impacted your life or career?"

This question is a fantastic icebreaker because it invites your team to share personal stories. Those always reveal the real you ;) and what motivates and influences you.

🏅Whistle. Whistle.  "Lead from where you are. Now."

Stacey, Robert, and EB would agree. It’s not about your fancy title or your corner office—it’s about grabbing whatever you’ve got right in front of you and making something happen. Roy Kent would growl it out something fierce: leadership means stepping up, not waiting to be asked. Show you can handle it. This idea, raw and direct, is the bedrock of their philosophy: start leading from where you stand, with the guts you’ve got, and watch how you transform not just your own patch but the whole bloody pitch.

📚Beard’s collection: 

📖 Lindsey Pollak. Getting from College to Career: Your Essential Guide to Succeeding in the Real World. HarperCollins, 2024.

Stepping out of college into the big, wide world? No worries! This book is brimming with practical advice, from sprucing up your resume to mastering the art of networking.  Ideal for recent grads eager to carve their path with heart and gusto!

📖 John C. Maxwell. John Maxwell’s Guide for Developing Leaders. Maxwell Publishing, 2024.

Dive into John Maxwell's expert insights on transforming everyday individuals into exemplary leaders, with practical tools and actionable strategies that echo Coach Beard’s wisdom on nurturing potential. This guide is a treasure trove of leadership gold, perfect for anyone looking to lead with integrity and inspire greatness in others.

📖 Marnie Stockman and Nick Coniglio. Lead It Like Lasso. Year of the Book Press, 2023.

We were super honored to hear that ILA gave a copy of our book to each of their program graduates! We just wanted to say thank you!

🌎 This week in Here - There - Every F’ing where 

We are  thankful for Mike Mahony for hosting us on his podcast: Gaining the Technology Leadership Edge. If that sounds like a podcast for you, you can check out the episode here.

Keep calm and keep curious!

Marnie & Nick

📦 Nate’s suggestion box: We love hearing your ideas! Let us know what we should share in next week's newsletter :)

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