Comparing My Leadership Journey to Harry Potter’s

The inspiration for this piece came from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits and Minnesota Council on Foundations joint annual conference keynote. Three speakers, including Lieutenant Governor Flanagan plus the executive directors of the two host organizations, shared their leadership journeys, including how they became leaders and how their leadership has evolved.

It struck me as a question worth reflecting on for any leader, even someone like me, whose career might seem less remarkable and more average compared to the women on stage that day. After jotting down some thoughts in my journal, I decided to share them publicly, in the spirit of learning from one another. And of course, I added a bit of magic. ??

A Regular Muggle

In Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Harry discovers through a series of dramatic events that he is gifted, unique, and chosen. That’s not what happened to me. I’m just a regular Muggle who became a leader by leading, much like how someone becomes a runner by running.

People put me in charge of things. As a 7th grader, I didn't ask to be responsible–along with my teammate Cindy–for the special suitcase that always traveled with our basketball team. The coach asked, and I said yes. In college, I didn't volunteer to be president of my residence hall. Someone nominated me, and I said yes. Each time something like this happened, I gained a little more confidence. I started seeing myself as someone capable of leading.

I also inherited this from my parents, both of whom have a long history of chairing committees and taking charge. (You could say being a board member is in my blood.) Their words and actions instilled in me a sense of responsibility: volunteer to help. If you see a problem, fix it. Give everyone a chance to share the load and the credit.

There was no dramatic moment of enlightenment or a grand calling. I simply took on responsibilities, organized people, and improved over time, until eventually I realized: “Oh, I'm seen as a leader here. This thing I'm doing is leadership.”?

My Dumbledore, My Snape

One thing I do have in common with Harry Potter is that we both had some remarkable mentors and teachers. Research suggests that women benefit strongly from mentors who challenge them with difficult assignments, and I certainly experienced this at a few critical points in my career. I also had teachers who gave me tools for self-awareness, mindfulness, and reflection, starting when I was in middle school.

Of course, I’ve also encountered a few negative role models. I had a boss who was completely out of touch with what was happening in the organization, and another who fostered a hostile environment for women. I learned from them how NOT to lead. These experiences were valuable for the resilience they required me to build, and the ways they prompted me to find my voice to speak out against damaging practices.

One of my tricks for continuous growth as a leader is self-directed learning via reading. About twice a year I slowly digest a leadership book. I mark it up, talk about it, journal about it, do the exercises, and assimilate its wisdom. My favorite way to do this is with a group of people who are reading the same work and comparing notes. (Let me know if you want to join a pop-up book club with me!)

Each Challenge Harder Than the Last

I enjoyed how, in the Harry Potter series, the books become progressively more difficult and the themes become increasingly complex and mature as the story unfolds. (The trouble was slowing my kids down–they wanted to rush to the next book before they were ready as young readers.)

Similarly, leadership has become more difficult and complex as my career has progressed and the world around me has changed. Being a senior manager during the pandemic and racial reckoning of 2020 felt drastically more challenging than being a middle manager in calmer times. That’s why I’ve never felt fully competent as a leader, and I probably never will–the task keeps getting harder.

Some of the things I’m still working on are trusting my gut, leading through others, and using my privilege to advocate for marginalized individuals. These are leadership spells that I have to practice over and over, not just master once.

The more adept I become at leading, the more I come to appreciate how crucial other leaders are to my own success. Just as every member of Harry Potter’s crew brought an essential quality or skill, my colleagues and peers have lifted me up with their wisdom and collaborated to make the sum of our efforts greater than its parts.?

Closing Thoughts

As I reflect on my leadership journey, it’s clear that it isn’t much like Harry Potter’s, or Peggy Flanagan’s, or anyone else’s for that matter. It’s filled with my own challenges, insights, and detours. But ultimately, Harry and I do have three important things in common. First, we are driven by deeply held convictions and a sense of responsibility to others. Second, we are continuously learning from our challenges and successes, with the help of mentors, teachers,? and role models. Third, we owe much of our success to our friends and colleagues. If you choose to examine your own leadership journey, tell me if these themes apply, or if you see something different!