What qualities do you expect to see in a highly effective leader?
A highly effective leader needs to be able to be a good listener. They need to have passion around whatever they’re doing or pursuing. They have to be fearless; fearless being not taking no for an answer just being able to redirect until they satisfy their goal or objective. A good leader is tough yet compassionate. They really do need to be able to have really good people skills. A lot of times leaders are not necessarily looked at for their people skills to be able to move, motivate and mobilize individuals to get the achieved results at the end of the day. So, they also need to be good coach being able to take what they have no matter what it is seeing the best in what they have, bringing it all together and be able to get the objectives or results..-Valerie Patton(1min.44sec)
Valerie Patton, Executive Director, The St. Louis Business Diversity Initiative
LSL Class of 1992-93
Valerie Patton serves as executive director of the Saint Louis Business Diversity Initiative. In this role, she develops strategies, solutions and programs for companies and non-profit organizations in the St. Louis region in the area of workforce diversity and inclusion (recruitment, retention and advancement of talented people of color) through training, convening and consulting. She was featured in May 2008 Black Enterprise Magazine.
Prior to accepting this position in April 2002, Valerie held numerous positions at Southwestern Bell and SBC (now AT&T) and Bank of America in the areas of information systems and technology, process management, project management, product management and accounting (budget analysis and administration).
Valerie is community focused and engaged serving on the board of directors for: United Way of Greater St. Louis, YWCA of Metropolitan St. Louis, Girls Inc., and Girl Scouts of Eastern Missouri and has received numerous professional and community awards and distinctions. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated and The LINKS, Incorporated.
Valerie holds degrees from Howard University (BBA-Accounting), Webster University (MA-Management) and Washington University (MSW-Social/Economic Development) and has done post graduate studies in Business Management.
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