President ’s Perspective
FOLLOW THE LEADER
By Aldrica Lattimore
True leaders inspire.
They reach deep inside themselves, find a core truth, and draw on
that truth to effect change. True leaders do not wait for someone
else to act nor do they bide their time until the latest study is published. Instead, the true leader acts, laying down a solid foundation
and motivates others to translate ideas into action.
However, in talking about leadership, we often lose sight of one of
the most important aspects, that is, the follower. Leaders will never
be successful unless and until they are able to convince followers
that they are worthy of being followed, and that their vision, their
goals, their character, their ethics, their integrity are worth the efforts of the follower.
Here at NAMC San Diego & Imperial Counties Chapter, and in this
new magazine that we launch today, we are inspired by the true
leaders and business champions of diversity. We applaud those pioneers who have paved the way toward an enriched business world, and we want to share their
inspiring stories.
In doing so, we endeavor to inspire others to adopt diversity best practices into their policies, in the hope that they, in turn, will inspire others to do the same.
Versatility and diversity is what makes us unique and strong. By respecting and accepting
different backgrounds and cultures into our daily lives -- whether business, education, employment, or personal -- we learn to accept that we are all human and should be treated as equals.
The ideas of equality and fairness, and the strength that comes from embracing diversity,
are the cornerstones of the United States. They have inspired our country’s greatest leaders, who,
in turn, have inspired all of us. The foundation of these ideas can be best expressed in the diversity of our nation.
Diversity:
• Leads us to learn from those whose experiences, beliefs, and perspectives differ from our own.
These lessons can be taught best in a richly diverse intellectual and social environment.
• Promotes personal growth and a healthy society. It challenges stereotypes and encourages
critical thinking.
• Strengthens communities and workplaces.
• Fosters mutual respect and teamwork. It helps build communities whose members are judged
by the quality of their character and contributions.
In essence, diversity embraces America’s economic competitiveness. Sustaining the nation’s prosperity in the 21st Century will
require us to make effective use of the talents and abilities of all of
our citizens. Such prosperity requires leaders in all segments of society to create workplace and business settings that bring together
individuals from diverse backgrounds and cultures.
We, as a whole community, will be stronger for such an
approach. Our magazine, DyNAMC - Leaders of a Changing World,
is determined to be an integral partner in that positive, dynamic
change. We will be a progressive resource that is dedicated to
providing women and diverse entrepreneurs, small to medium
business owners, with the latest and most practical information on how to start, manage, and
grow a business. We propose to provide an extensive range of articles on finance, technology,
sales, and marketing, as well as highlight inspiring stories from successful entrepreneurs. Our
magazine aims to connect our readers to each other and to the organizations and corporations
that actively embrace diversity by providing real opportunities and support.
We walk the walk when it comes to business diversity.
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