Ep45 Dr. Maylén Sullivan, from Cuba to Princeton, 2026 CLTA Teacher of the Year: Leadership Development podcast

What questions do you want asked at in the show?HOST: Ovi Vásquez is a nationally recognized bilingual leadership keynote speaker who inspires audiences at education conferences, corporate summits, and association events. A #1 Amazon bestselling author and TEDx speaker, Ovi draws upon his journey from working as a child farmworker in the sugarcane fields of rural Guatemala to working for some of Silicon Valley’s leading companies.Through his story, he delivers a powerful message of resilience, leadership, and purpose. Speaking in English and Spanish, he specializes in youth leadership, first-generation student empowerment, and developing values-driven leaders across education, business, and communities.GUEST BIO:  Dr. Maylén Sullivan, 2026 Southwest COLT and California Language Teacher of the Year. A passionate trilingual educator originally from Cuba, she serves as Coronado Unified School District’s World Language Teacher on Special Assignment, leading K–12 professional development and shaping district vision. With a PhD in Leadership Studies from the University of San Diego and over 15 years of teaching experience, Dr. Sullivan is a certified leadership coach dedicated to biliteracy, global citizenship, and empowering the next generation of leaders. Find our guest at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maylen Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com Leadership Development Keywords: instructional leadership, servant leadership, educational leadership, biliteracy, change leadership, collaboration, empowerment, inclusive leadership, organizational excellence, self-authorship Leadership Development Summary: In this episode, Dr. Maylén Sullivan defines leadership through two powerful lenses: listening and change. Drawing from her journey as a Cuban immigrant, Princeton scholar, and educational leader, she emphasizes belief, collaboration, service, and empowerment. She shares how leaders must foster inclusive environments, define excellence intentionally, and practice self-authorship to drive meaningful change. Her insights apply directly to educators, corporate leaders, and organizations seeking sustainable transformation. 10 Takeaways on Leadership Development ✅ Leadership begins with listening ✅ Change requires collaboration ✅ Belief unlocks potential ✅ Service strengthens influence ✅ Transparency builds trust ✅ Excellence must be defined clearly ✅ Leaders empower future leaders ✅ Self-authorship creates agency ✅ Reflection sharpens strategy ✅ Collaboration outperforms hierarchy 5 Titles for Leadership Development ✅ Listening Leads to Change ✅ From Cuba to Leadership Excellence ✅ Empowering Biliteracy and Belief ✅ Self-Authorship: The Leader Within ✅ Collaboration Creates Transformation 5 Sound Bites for Leadership Development 🗣 “If there’s no need for change, there’s no need for leadership.” 🗣 “Belief changes trajectories.” 🗣 “Nobody gets anywhere alone.” 🗣 “Define excellence before pursuing it.” 🗣 “We must empower young people—they are already leaders.” 10 Chapters on Leadership Development 00:00 – Introduction to Dr. Maylén Sullivan 02:56 – Defining Leadership: Listening & Change 04:17 – Early Influences and Cuba 09:45 – Princeton and Life Transformation 11:28 – Top Leadership Principles 12:39 – Developing Leaders Through Collaboration 14:37 – Retaining Talent and Preventing Burnout 16:13 – Recognition and Influence 17:59 – Defining Organizational Excellence 22:50 – Self-Authorship and Empowerment Books Mentioned: Man’s Search for Meaning – Viktor Frankl The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People – Stephen R. Covey 168 Hours – Laura Vanderkam #OVinspires#LeadershipMessengers#leadership#community Leadership Culture podcastExecutive leadership podcastEducational leadership podcastOrganizational leadership podcastProfessional Development podcastChange Management podcastCorporate leadership podcastSchool leadership podcastTop Leadership podcast for managersBuilding High-Performance Teams podcast Find our host at: https://www.ovinspires.com