The Authentic Leadership model has five key pillars, Sense of Purpose, Distinct Values, Relationship Building, Goals & Self-discipline, and Genuine Heart. Throughout my career, I’d be hard-pressed to offer a better example of the quintessential authentic leader than Kassandra. I worked with Kassandra for three years providing operational support for her clinical research activities and facilitating professional development programs she participated in. Watching her grow from a high-achieving individual contributor to a successful manager was a pleasure. This transition is challenging for anyone to make. Still, even amid the challenges of the pandemic, Kassandra navigated it very well through an enviable combination of grit, self-awareness, a growth mindset, compassionate candor, and unshakeable integrity. Management is often a responsibility that can harden even the most open, giving hearts. However, despite the challenges to operational capacity and personal well-being that the pandemic brought to her team, Kassandra never compromised her performance and the care of those she was responsible for. Kassandra has my highest recommendation as a clinical research professional, manager, and leader.

The Authentic Leadership model has five key pillars, Sense of Purpose, Distinct Values, Relationship Building, Goals & Self-discipline, and Genuine Heart. Throughout my career, I’d be hard-pressed to offer a better example of the quintessential authentic leader than Kassandra. I worked with Kassandra for three years providing operational support for her clinical research activities and facilitating professional development programs she participated in. Watching her grow from a high-achieving individual contributor to a successful manager was a pleasure. This transition is challenging for anyone to make. Still, even amid the challenges of the pandemic, Kassandra navigated it very well through an enviable combination of grit, self-awareness, a growth mindset, compassionate candor, and unshakeable integrity. Management is often a responsibility that can harden even the most open, giving hearts. However, despite the challenges to operational capacity and personal well-being that the pandemic brought to her team, Kassandra never compromised her performance and the care of those she was responsible for. Kassandra has my highest recommendation as a clinical research professional, manager, and leader.

The Authentic Leadership model has five key pillars, Sense of Purpose, Distinct Values, Relationship Building, Goals & Self-discipline, and Genuine Heart. Throughout my career, I’d be hard-pressed to offer a better example of the quintessential authentic leader than Kassandra. I worked with Kassandra for three years providing operational support for her clinical research activities and facilitating professional development programs she participated in. Watching her grow from a high-achieving individual contributor to a successful manager was a pleasure. This transition is challenging for anyone to make. Still, even amid the challenges of the pandemic, Kassandra navigated it very well through an enviable combination of grit, self-awareness, a growth mindset, compassionate candor, and unshakeable integrity. Management is often a responsibility that can harden even the most open, giving hearts. However, despite the challenges to operational capacity and personal well-being that the pandemic brought to her team, Kassandra never compromised her performance and the care of those she was responsible for. Kassandra has my highest recommendation as a clinical research professional, manager, and leader.