A crowd of students from the Practice of Leadership and Change class gathered in the Erb Memorial Union Fir Room on Monday afternoon to hear Kathleen Joy, Executive Director of Oregon Volunteers! speak about leadership as part of the Leadership and Change Lecture Series presented by the Department of Planning, Public Policy and Management.
Joy reflected on her personal experiences as a leader and manager in a variety of organizations in Oregon and internationally, and specifically on her work in Kenya and Zambia.
In her time at the American Red Cross, Joy traveled across the world and within 10 months of working at the organization, was made the executive director. This made her the only woman in the country responsible for a chapter of that size, she said.
The tenure of her leadership coincided with the women’s rights movement which, Joy said, felt like “being under a microscope every minute.”
When her husband, Robert Joy, was given the opportunity to go work in Kenya she quickly seized the opportunity to expand her understanding of other parts of the world and was able to see the administrative difficulties such as lack of resources and government neglect that non-profit organizations had to face working in Kenya.
“Africa has always called me to a place that is deep inside my heart,” she said.
She said that during this time, she learned three valuable lessons that are very important to her; gentleness, frugality and humility. She learned that if you don’t put yourself before others, you can become a leader.
Joy said she hopes that her lecture gave students “a sense of the possibilities, a glimpse into the evolution of leadership and an understanding of the difference between being a leader and being a manager.”
She said students should “ask questions, understand your subject matter, insert yourself in opportunities where you can be a leader and contribute, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes.”
Joy calls herself a “woman of privilege” born into a family of leaders who helped nurture her interest in and passion for being a leader. She said she believes that leadership is about opening our hearts and inspiring others, as well as learning to “share experiences and emotions.”
“Nurturing others is the most important thing I could do,” she said of her experiences at the Zambian Red Cross, “Africa was my greatest teacher.”
People can make more change in government leadership if they start young, she said.
A self-described experiential learner, Joy said that “we are exposed to the concept of leadership throughout our lives and that leadership is a human activity that comes from the heart.”
University senior Suzannah Hamlin, who attended the lecture, said “I enjoyed hearing her story, it was inspiring.” She adds, I thought it was good, she was a good speaker and I could tell she was a really good writer.”
Attendee Mai Le, a junior, said “Ms. Joy seemed really passionate about her work, and I admire her dedication to the nonprofit sector.”