Anthropology

In addition to undergraduate teaching at Fordham University under the mentorship of Margaret Mead, I taught anthropology classes designed to help NYC Police Officers better understand the many worlds in which they operate and other courses applying of the principles of cultural anthropology to modern societies such as the Anthropology of Law.  I also conducted anthropological research with traditional societies in the Philippines.

The more I work with boards, the more I realize that they cannot provide effective oversight, leadership and support unless there are shared values that provide personal support for their members and principles by which they agree to work together.

The importance of a board’s culture—its shared understandings, values and ways of operating—to its ability to exercise leadership, cannot be overestimated. 

The values are fairly obvious, but unfortunately not often enough present.

• Starting meetings on time
• Preparing for meetings
• Allowing members to complete their thoughts
• Seeking and respecting the opinions of all members
• Expressing opinions in the meeting, not outside of it
• Respecting the recommendations of committees
• Accepting personal responsibility for achieving board objectives

When the board operates with the same values that govern how the organization relates to its clients -when the board “walks the walk”-its strength is magnified.