by President & CEO, Kris Valerio Shock

"The promise of spring's arrival is enough to get anyone through the bitter winter."

-Jen Selinsky

“The beautiful spring came, and when nature resumes her loveliness, the human soul is apt to revive also.”

- Harriet Ann Jacobs

Who couldn’t use a few optimistic springtime quotes?

As Colin Powell stated: “Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.”

No matter the challenges we face – global, local and everything in between – it is the responsibility of community leaders to inspire optimism.

Feeling a quart low on your optimism?

This article explains why leaders who actively choose an optimistic approach are much more likely to lead adaptive, successful and innovative organizations and practical things you can do to help increase your optimism.

Another practical approach to increasing your optimism, is surrounding yourself with leaders who positively impact our community. That’s where LAA can help.

Emerging from a long cold winter, we look forward to a whole new season of opportunity. Flagship and Neighborhood Leadership Academy relationships planted in fall and winter months will blossom into lifelong connections.

We invite the LAA community at large to join the Flagship class in their Environment Day exploration with a Flagship Talk on Hope and Resilience for the Chesapeake Bay led by Kate Fritz, CEO, Alliance for the Chesapeake Bay on Wednesday, April 20^th at Homestead Gardens.

And we look forward to celebrating a robust roster of New Leader Honorees together at the 2022 New Leaders Celebration Breakfast at Carroll’s Creek Café on April 27^th.  (Stay tuned for an announcement featuring the 2022 Honorees!)

“An optimist is the human personification of spring.”

-Susan J. Bissonette

I hope you’ll join the LAA community as we welcome the new season, together!

I had the good fortune to study under Maravene Leoschke as an undergrad student in the Theater Department at Towson University. I learned a great deal about the theater and acting from Maravene; but I learned more about leadership. And even more about being a female leader. So much of what I learned from Maravene in those days took me years to fully realize.

As luck would have it, I had the opportunity to introduce Maravene at a Signature Breakfast with the BWI Business Partnership after she had returned to Towson as President of the University (pictured at right). It was one of the single greatest honors of my professional career, to introduce my good friend and mentor to a ballroom full of business leaders.

Sadly, shortly after that event, Maravene became ill and passed away very early in her tenure as President. The above quote was shared by the University in tribute to her following her passing. Even several years after her death, I can hear her voice in this quote and I find it deeply inspiring. 

I pondered over this quote as I was in the interview process for my current role with Leadership Anne Arundel and as I read it again today, I feel strongly that it speaks to the heart of the present opportunity with LAA.

How are you going to make positive change in your professions, your families, your communities, the state, the country and the world?

Leadership Anne Arundel is not a program. Or a class. While LAA Alumni have been through a LAA program and are members of a particular class, the real opportunity far exceeds a specific experience. Leadership Anne Arundel is a powerful network that holds within it the connections, pathways and thought leadership to make real, positive change in our community. 

This uncertain world needs you, your leadership, your passion, your vision and your commitment.

These days, we are all pulled in a million directions. Capacity is a challenge. But our uncertain world needs good leadership more than ever. The LAA opportunity is not about a date on your calendar, it's about contributing your leadership, passion, vision and commitment to benefit your local community, as you are able, on any given day.

Our job as an organization is to make it easier for you to engage at the speed of life; to enable you to have the impact you want to have.

LAA sits at the intersection of professional, personal and community development. The new online community expedites connecting with 1400+ alumni, sharing your thought leadership and joining the conversation. LAA is an increasingly nimble organization focused on delivering value to our members, alumni and the community at large.  We're here to help you make the positive impact you want to make. And then to share it and celebrate it.

Ask yourself how the world will be better because of you.  Then tell us how we can help.