Four Lessons From New-Power Leaders

Here are four practical lessons we’ve learned from leaders who are reimagining conferences and convenings — often in steeply old-power contexts.

Connect the Most Powerful With the Least

Geraldine McGinty (@DrGMcGinty) is the first woman chair of the American College of Radiology in its 100-year history. She is opening up the organization in dynamic ways, reaching out to diverse voices inside its membership and well beyond. At the organization’s annual conference, she paired the most powerful leaders and doctors with newcomers to make sure they felt connected and included.

“What I learned from Dr. McGinty is this: No matter the title, packed schedule, or prior commitments, supporting others and making connections within our field is a commitment worthy of the time,” said Candace Potter, the resident who found herself mentored by Dr. McGinty. “It can be as simple as a tweet, an email, or providing an introduction. One of the best parts of becoming successful at any stage is being able to look back and help pull others forward” (http://bit.ly/2lBbiz4).

Level the Field

Nasra Ismali (@Nas_Isms) heads a consortium of nonprofit organizations in Somalia and leads #GivingTuesday there. When introducing a high-level event in partnership with the UN at its HQ in Nairobi — bringing together frontline activists and UN top brass — she made a point of telling everyone she was going to ignore what protocol directed: to single out the dignitaries and senior staff in attendance. Instead, she made a point of saying that she was welcoming everyone in his or her capacity as a student. It was a simple — but powerful — way to set a tone.

Hand People Your Holy Things

Traditional weekly worship is one of the most old-power convenings of all. We take our pew, bow our head, and play our (small) part.

But at the House for All Saints and Sinners in Denver, former Pastor Nadia Bolz-Weber did things very differently. Her services were co-created by her congregants, from delivering the Sunday liturgy to leading prayers, even to planning Ash Wednesday — one of the holiest moments of the Christian year. The result of this was a vibrant, engaged church that spoke especially to millennials. From the first moment you walked in the door, your participation mattered. As she put it, “We trust you with the holy things right away, just because you showed up.”

Open Up Access

Helen Bevan (@HelenBevan) works inside the National Health Service in the U.K. – as old power an organization as you might imagine with a reputation for “change management” events that download “best practice” onto unsuspecting delegates.

Instead, she created the “School for Health and Care Radicals,” which is a free-access online course open to anyone — even those outside the NHS — who wants to shake up the system on his or her own terms. This not only democratizes access, but also lets people self-select into a powerful community of professionals. As Dani, one of the participants, put it: “It doesn’t matter what your title, role, or banding is. Be passionate; you are needed, your voice and story are important.”