Navigating Relationships As Deputy AD With Kent State’s Suzette McQueen & Oregon’s Valerie Johnson

Guest Suzette McQueen, Kent State; Valerie Johnson, Oregon

24:33 min watch

Summary

Kent State Deputy AD/SWA Suzette McQueen and Oregon Deputy AD/SWA Valerie Johnson join ADU’s Steph Garcia Cichosz at the 2023 Women Leaders Convention in New Orleans to discuss how they navigate relationships with teammates, middle managers and peers within their role as senior leaders. McQueen and Johnson share their strategies for effective communication with difficult collaborators, discuss the importance of engaging mid-level professionals and reflect on the relationships they’ve cultivated through their rise to the Deputy AD level. The duo also shares the “impact moments” that have influenced their career trajectories.

The conversation is indexed below for efficient viewing (click the time stamp to jump to a specific question/topic).

- Kent State AD Randale Richmond has talked about the importance of impact moments; what are a few impact moments that influenced your career trajectory?
- How have you carved out a niche for yourself as leaders?
- How do you collaborate with a peer or staff member who struggles to cooperate like a team player?
- As a Deputy AD, it's probably impossible to micromanage your entire workload; how does your staff gain your trust?
- When it comes to collaborate efforts, how do you say no? How do you know what to say no to?
- There's a lot of emphasis on young professionals and senior leaders; how do you engage with that "middle management" group of staff members and help them feel purpose in their everyday tasks?
- How have you navigated peer relationships throughout your career?

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