“Prior to my current employer, and for most of my 36-year career, I’ve worked in an industry and for organizations that have strong central leadership, where communications and changes to operations are prescriptive and highly structured.  While this can be fast, it doesn’t necessarily last, and it may not leverage the best solutions, limiting the opportunities to get the best out of each employee and potentially missing great ideas that aren’t obvious to top-line leadership. [Dr. Shippy / Mary] and I began working together a year ago, to help re-imagine a different approach with the team through true leadership, trust, and empowerment.  With this approach, our team has improved the speed and way we develop solutions.  It has harnessed the teams’ talents, helped build interdependence within the group, and created a truly high-performing team offering best-in-class creative solutions in pursuit of excellence within the organization.  It has enhanced our effectiveness and acted as a force multiplier. The journey has been striking, as it has been achieved with minor shifts in behaviors but has precipitated paradigm-shifting realizations.  The changes we are affecting within our business are expanding rapidly, as they are no longer being managed, but rather, they are being led through enabling the team and organizational collaboration.  It has been among the best self-development programs I have participated in, and it’s had a tangible impact on me, my team, and will have a lasting impact on the organization.”