Creating the Global Leadership Academy
How it all started
My story begins in 2017 when I arrived at a correctional center full of fear, anger, failure, shame, isolation, and insecurity. In August of 2018, I heard about the Global Leadership Summit (GLS). However, because of the intense and difficult emotions that I was dealing with, I didn’t do anything to get myself invited. Fortunately, I worked to make some changes in my institutional strategies, and I was invited to attend the GLS in August 2019. It was at this point that I finally experienced an entirely different atmosphere. It was a very positive experience, and for 2 days I remember feeling like something other than a resident at a correctional institution. After hearing Chris Voss speak at GLS 2019, I received and read his book. I was keenly aware that applying his concept of tactical empathy could benefit me in my interactions with other residents and staff members. This concept worked when I applied it, and it showed me that other leadership concepts from GLS speakers could be applied within the prison to the benefit of everyone. This planted the seed for the Global Leadership Academy (GLA).
I attended my 2nd GLS in August 2021, and I was immediately re-invigorated. After hearing Shola Richards’ talk about civility, I again realized that these concepts can be applied in the prison to the benefit of all. My idea for the GLA resurfaced, and others were also excited to expand the scope of the GLS experience. I read both of Richards’ books along with Malcolm Gladwell’s Talking to Strangers. While I knew Gladwell’s work from other readings, I was really inspired by Shola Richards, and I floated my ideas by other participants. Reading books like Herding Tigers by Todd Henry, helped me understand who, why, and how I was, gave me a shove to get uncomfortable and heal through connections and relationships with others.
In the fall of 2021, we had a 2-hour GLS follow-up meeting to review some of the topics we had learned about during the GLS. I spoke in passing with our chaplain about the idea of the GLA, and he said he would need to send a proposal to the administration. I asked if he would like me to write a proposal. He accepted and I was now committed to putting my ideas and thoughts into actions. I knew I would need to create directives, a syllabus, and a sustainability framework. I spent a lot of time thinking about the structure, staff-involvement, and importance of finding the right people to start the Global Leadership Academy program. I had no experience in creating a program like this and I was anxious and nervous, but I knew that applying the process and practice of leadership to my desire to heal through connection and relation would require me to get out of my comfort zone.
The Global Leadership Academy - The Early Days
In December 2021, I submitted a course proposal to the chaplain, and after review by the administration, the proposal was approved. We agreed that January 5, 2022, would be our first group meeting. I created a tentative plan in the form of an outline by watching over 30 GLS speakers from the 2 years of DVDs that we had. The GLS resources that I used to create this outline had the unintended effect of motivating me and expanding my ideas of leadership and its applications. Like anything new, the start was rocky. The program almost fell apart. I felt like I was doing everything, and my perceived lack of support inside the institution was discouraging. I was struggling, and some of the initial participants quit. The chaplain considered shutting us down. I felt very insecure, and I was doubting my idea, but through prayer and meditation I knew the solution was to move through my pain, uncertainty, and chaos. I felt like this was a process, not merely a product.
I asked my wife to reach out to the Global Leadership Network, and a connection was made with Marcie. She provided us with invaluable resources, and the connection alone was reinvigorating. I also fought to get some key people added to our group. I recognized some strengths in leadership in others. I humbled myself and asked for help; it was exactly what we needed, when we needed it.
I continued by having several discussions with a participant that joined us after the first 6 weeks. I knew he could be a big help. He told me what he liked most about our group was that it was something that helped to “build us up in a place where everything tears us down.” I expressed my discouragement in the engagement of others, and I felt like I was doing most of the talking. I knew to be most effective, this needed to be a discussion - learning and connecting with each other by relating with each other. He offered to take the lead for Jo Saxon and the principle of “self-actualization.” We started with a simple definition and then asked for simple examples with direct questions to our group, now 19 people strong. Our warden joined our discussion and told our chaplain that he was impressed, and that it was like being back in a college philosophy class. It was all icing on the proverbial cake and a turning point in the program.
We continued this model of taking examples and experiences from participants that related to each GLS speaker’s talk, and we discussed how these principles can apply in prison and what the benefits of that practice may be when we are released from prison. We also discussed how the lack of applying and practicing these principles caused us to come to prison. We talked about how we can practice these principles now, and we recognized that these ideas are a process that requires us to try and put forth effort despite the difficulties of where we currently live. We acknowledged the importance of being willing to fail and to try again.
Gaining Traction
In the words of John Maxwell, we are learning to “test, fail, learn, improve, and RE-ENTER.” By applying a process and practice of leadership, we have had many successes. One example of this occurred when I was in the visiting room with my mother. I was approached by a gentleman I didn’t know. He was a little emotional and thanked me, and he stated that he was impressed by his son’s growth since beginning GLA.
I can honestly say that this experience has changed my life and created a calling and a direction for my life moving forward. The GLA is spreading across Missouri, where I was incarcerated. It is also currently in a facility in Virginia with plans to expand to more facilities across the state, country, and globe.
Learn more about Second Mountain Leadership and the Global Leadership Academy. We would greatly appreciate your support by sharing our stories, connecting with us, and, if possible, financial support. Thank you for following our journey.