OLEAD 410: Leadership in a Global Context

Cultural Leadership blog

Archives for August 2021

Introduction

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Hello!

My name is Tiffany and I am currently a senior with plans to graduate this fall with a degree in Organizational Leadership. I work full time for a medical device company in sales. My husband is a small grain farmer and soon our schedule will become very hectic since harvest season is right around the corner. We have two small boys who we can’t keep out of the tractors! In our free time we enjoy traveling in our camper. Before our sons graduate high school we want to travel to all fifty states as a family. I look forward to getting to know everyone this semester!

Introduction

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Hi everyone!

My name is Julia! I currently live in Tampa, Florida but was born in Krasnoyarsk, Russia. I am attending Penn State for my bachelors in Organizational Leadership and am excited to graduate next year!

Some of my favorite things include reading, kayaking, rock climbing, napping and eating. I also volunteer for an organization that rescues neglected and abused animals from Puerto Rico. I help out by fostering so there is always a dog (or two) with me.

I am also currently employed as an Account Manager for an organization that provides pre-employment background checks and drug screening. I have been with the company for six years now and have loved every single minute of it!

I am excited to meet you all and look forward to the rest of this semester!

Introduction

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Hello Class,

My name is Taylor Rasmussen. I am 35 live in Sacramento, CA. I am married and have 3 children, ages 14, 10, 7. This is my final semester at Penn State in root to my BA in Organizational Leadership! I am thankful for my time at PSU and looking forward to continuing on to my masters program at Arizona State University.

I have been in on my career path for the last 17 years and I am currently running a Distribution Center. I am looking forward to moving into a Director level role soon. I enjoy developing myself and others. I read several leadership books a year, attend webinars, summits, listen to podcasts, etc. I also have facilitated 3 mentoring classes this year in which I pass along the information and applications I have learned through my time to help others move along in their goals.

I spend the little free time I have with my family. My daughter loves play travel softball so that takes a lot of time. We like to go to Disneyland at least once a year (trying to go back this year after missing last year).

A couple of times a year, I am able to get out and golf with friends.

I am really looking forward to this class and understanding global leadership at a higher level.

Thanks to everyone who takes the time to read my blog.

Good luck this semester!

PS: I have added my linkedin link if anyone would like to make a professional connection

https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylor-rasmussen-46a56b15a?lipi=urn%3Ali%3Apage%3Ad_flagship3_profile_view_base_contact_details%3B30zECZUDQYeYuKKGFBcIIw%3D%3D

Introduction

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Hello everyone,

My name is Bill Egan, and I reside in West Chester, PA with my wife and two dogs. I am currently pursuing a degree in Organizational Leadership. Mainly just to keep a fresh perspective, as I am already 15 years into my career.

I work in the construction business, specifically Fire Alarm and Sprinkler inspection/service and new install. I work on the Sales side, but am a team lead, and decided to pursue another Bachelor’s in OLEAD just to enhance my abilities at work.

In my free time I enjoy working out, golfing, traveling reading, checking out my favorite sports teams.

Good luck this semester!

Bill Egan

Introduction

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Hello Everyone,

My name is Jennifer, and this is my last undergrad class – after a minor COVID setback in the fall. I am currently a Customer Experience Manager for a small organization in the trucking industry, a mom of three wild boys, and a wife. Our organization does have a small global market, and I am looking forward to incorporating this class into my work.

I grew up in New Jersey but now reside in Pennsylvania with my family. Outside of work we are an active family, this summer we took a road trip from our home in Chambersburg, PA, to Cooperstown, NY, then up into Maine, and then Boston before coming home. We are also on the go with baseball, piano, and soccer with our boys.

Introduction

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Hello Everyone!

My name is Anna and I was born and raised in Philadelphia. I moved out to Tucson, AZ to escape the cold winters and that is where I fell on the path of a Human Resources career. I was given an amazing opportunity in as a Human Resources Representative and have been working in the same field for several years now. I am an undergraduate majoring in HR/Labor and Employment Relations studies with about 13 more credits to go! 😊 I want to continue to grow and learn to become a subject matter expert in various areas.

I currently live in Florida, and now working as a Senior HR Generalist for a non-profit organization that helps children to adults with special needs. Our organization provides preschool care, day programs and group residential homes, and an autism center. We also offer a variety of community-based programs and assist with employment support and living. Helping others and especially individuals with special needs has been really rewarding and humbling. Working in this environment means a lot to me as I personally have an older brother who is developmentally and physically challenged. I enjoy seeing our clients each day with huge smiles on their faces and wanting to just live, laugh and have fun like anyone else. I love volunteering to all our sponsored events, knowing what impact that every donation can make.

My husband I enjoy living in Florida with our Italian Greyhound. We enjoy being close to our PA family, and we enjoy kayaking, fishing, relaxing at all our beautiful beaches and traveling.

Introduction

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Hi Everyone my name is Keith Duzenski.  I’ve been in world campus for 6 years now and i’m 41 credits away from graduating with a BS in IST.

Professionally, I am the BI reporting Team Lead for the distribution business unit of a global fortune 150 company that focuses on trucking and power generation.  I have a globally diverse and dispersed team and this class is a perfect fit to improve my leadership skills.  I thoroughly look forward to learning new things as well as getting to work with new people.

Personally, I am a husband and father of 3 kids (Boy, Girl, Boy), 2 in middle school and 1 in elementary.  We live in Bucks County, PA with our Jack Russell and 2 Boston Terriers.  We’re an active family who is always on the go and doesn’t like to sit around.

I just bought a Peleton and it’s the best thing I’ve done for myself in a long time.  I absolutely love it.  If there are any other Peleton owners let me know we can start a group.

Keith

Welcome to OLEAD 410 (Fall 2021)!

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Dear Class (Global Leaders!),

I’m excited to welcome you to our course. I know that this will be a great time together. I’m checking in here in the introduction post to say hello and to encourage you all to do the same.

A little about me:

My wife (Dr. Ruby Gonzalez-Rios) and I are relocating to Barbados this Friday, August 27, for about one to 1 1/2 years. She will be starting medical school after serving as a scientist and researcher in cancer and infectious disease for over 20 years. I currently serve as a Senior Organization Development Consultant and Executive Coach at Harvard University and Founder of Peter Rios Consulting. My experiences span working with diverse organizations including businesses, religious institutions, government, higher education and non-profits in the areas of organizational diversity, equity and inclusion; leadership development and innovation.

I have been invited to speak and train leaders, nationally and internationally. In the United States Marines Corps I gained some global leadership experience while stationed in Okinawa Japan and South Korea. I have also taught as an adjunct professor in several institutions teaching undergraduate and graduate students in organizational leadership, religious and cultural studies, and business management. Additionally, I have had the privilege of serving as a vice president at two universities. Prior to academia, I was involved in pastoral ministry for over ten years.

My education includes a PhD in Intercultural Studies from Fuller Graduate Schools, a Doctorate in Strategic Leadership (DSL) from Regent University School of Business and Leadership, doctoral work from the University of Southern California-Rossier School of Education, and an MA from Northeastern Seminary.

Professionally, I consider myself a consultant, coach and professor. You can learn more about my current work at www.peterriosconsulting.com (feel free to download a free ebook). I love to watch basketball (go Lakers!), read many books on leadership and culture as it relates to diversity (equity and inclusion), business, theology and politics. Hence, my interests are broad and diverse. I will try my best to bring these experiences to this course through our dialogues.

Finally, do not hesitate to reach out to me for anything (seriously!). I am here to serve you. While I have broad experiences and education, I will be the first to admit that I do not know everything and look forward to learning from each of you! This course is wondeful because the topic is so broad and not one person can ever know all things global. Therefore, if we remain humble, respectful to each other and hungry to learn from one another, this should be a memorable experience for us.

The best way to reach me is by email at pzr5260@psu.edu. If you need to talk by phone, setting up an appointment by email will give you a confirmed conversation with me. I usually respond within 24 hours.

Well class, this is it for now. I look forward to our continuous interactions. 🙂

 

Kind regards,

Dr. Rios

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