Lessons from Leaders: Featured Guest Brigit Helms, Executive Director at Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University

Welcome back, leaders. We hope that this new year brings innovation and reaching new limits. It is so exciting to start off the new year with leader Brigit Helms, who is the Executive Director at Miller Center for Social Entrepreneurship at Santa Clara University. Brigit's impact has reached corners of the world from Africa, to Asia, to Costa Rica, Latin America, and beyond. In her travels and experience, it is 'safe' to say nothing quite prepared her for entering a new role at a new organization just 6 months into a global pandemic. Meeting the new team, ecosystem players, and staff all had to happen, as she says, in 2 dimensions, on Zoom. "I have a deep connection on how to build excellent teams. It is grounded on a deep sense of trust... That is very difficult to build when you don't know people and haven't seen them in person." Just like so many leaders, Brigit had to pivot what she knew to adjust to the pandemic's standards. As a self proclaimed student of organization transformation and leadership, she learned about The Five Dysfunctions of a Team: A Leadership Fable by Patrick Lencioni. This became her secret weapon and playbook. It was a pleasure to sit in the chair with Brigit, learn step by step how she took her team from strangers to a trusted bond, and how she continues to do so. As we enter our third year of the pandemic world, it is our goal here to continue bringing you the tools, tips, and sometimes tricks, of those who have experienced 'success' in leading virtually. Thank you, Brigit, for your optimism and ideas!