Dr. Robert J. Cruz joins Robert Forto on the Peak Experience Podcast to discuss servant leadership, education, mentorship, and how to put leadership principles into practice.
Cruz shares his path from an early start at the University of Connecticut to a 20-year career in the United States Air Force and, later, a return to higher education that ultimately led to a Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree. Today, he serves as an adjunct professor, consultant, author, and founder and CEO of BEC Global Consulting Group.
Servant leadership principles
The conversation explores the difference between studying leadership and practicing it, including Cruz’s experience teaching servant leadership to doctoral students and mentoring students who are balancing academics, careers, family responsibilities, and the realities of life. He also discusses artificial intelligence in higher education and the importance of integrity and critical thinking in academic work.
Moment in Leadership History: Leadership is not about keeping power.
It is about knowing when your responsibility is complete. | George Washington, 1783
Leadership and social change
Robert and Dr. Cruz then turn to Cruz’s book, Servant Leadership: A Remedy for Racism in America, and his belief that servant leadership provides a framework for addressing difficult social and organizational issues. Cruz discusses characteristics including listening, empathy, persuasion, foresight, stewardship, building community, and helping others grow.
It is a conversation about leadership as a daily practice, leaders’ responsibility to the people they serve, and how individuals can begin applying servant leadership within their own circles of influence.
“Servant leadership starts within your own circle of influence.”
