Lessons from Leaders: Featured Guest Maureen Dwyer, Executive Director of Sitar Arts Center

I am starting this episode off with a note to Washington DC. I am in the DMV area. For those not native to this area, that is short hand for: Virginia, Washington or Maryland.At the beginning of 2021, with our best efforts, and our most realistic expectations, many of us still had feelings of hope that when the clock struck 12 on January 31st, and we were no longer in 2020, that something would happen and our previous anxieties, struggles, worries, and fears would simply disappear. That concept fled quickly on January 6th, when the sobering attack at the capitol reminded us all that we were in the thick of not just a medical pandemic, but a cultural war. This episode may be one of our most insightful yet. I sat down with Maureen Dwyer,  of Sitar Art Center just a few days after the capitol events on January 6th and being a business located in the heart of downtown with most members being of color, she had the clearest view of how leaders can and should rise above. "We had actually scheduled on January 6th for our members to come to the office. When we saw what was occurring at the capitol, we cancelled anyone coming in. I did not want to risk any chance of anything happening to anyone walking to the center, as many of our members walk or take public transport. We discussed the idea of holding a forum... we wrote to our community. We are here to be a community of support and want to get a response to them."As she spoke through the days events, our conversation shifted to being a leader, forced to lead through a fearful state in live time and this is what she had to say: "It is okay to not be okay. It is okay for my team to express anxiety and concern. I lead the way by doing that myself. I don't want to worry them, but I can own what I am experiencing."Maureen, Washington DC, business owners and members alike, thank you for your resilience and your strength. This episode is one I hope everyone has a moment to listen to, particularly if you are not in the DMV area. Show Times: 0:00 - 2:00 - Introduction 2:00 - 3:00 - Being a business in Washington DC during a pandemic 3:00 - 6:00 - Leading during the Capitol Crisis 6:00 - 10:00 -  Leadership Qualities10:00 - 13:00 - Leadership Non Negotiable 13:00 - 15:30 - Courage & Discomfort in Leadership 15:30 - 18:00 - Mistakes and Leadership 18:00 - 21:30 - Covid Adaptations 21:30 - 25:00 - What I would tell myself... 25:00 - End - Closing thoughts https://youtu.be/LTWMDoukiJ8