We recently connected with Dr. Mordecai Ian Brownlee and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dr. Mordecai Ian, thanks for joining us today. Talk to us about building a team – did you hire quickly, how’d you recruit the first few team members? Any interesting lessons?
As executives, we are only as good as the teams we build and the systems we build around our team to ensure their success. On my journey to the college presidency, I have had the pleasure of serving a number of university and college presidents. The key trait I noticed among the more successful teams I’ve served is a culture that promotes and elevates the value of those in service to the institution. Too often, we allow job titles to define and govern us. Essentially, failing to remember that the job title is representative of our employed responsibility – not our value. It is critically important to me that our team not only feel valued but know they are valued. By doing so, their intentionality drives our institution and its strategic objectives forward – because they care and know they are cared for.
Dr. Mordecai Ian, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I currently serve as the sixth President of the Community College of Aurora in Colorado. In addition, I publish frequently as a columnist for EdSurge, and teach within the College of Education & Human Development at Lamar University in Texas. As a kid who tested at developmental levels for Math in community college and failed developmental Math, I never thought I would become a college president. However, through consistency and a vision to support the academic and professional journeys of others, my dream came true. Today, I take great pride in sharing my story with others and supporting their dreams.
Is there mission driving your creative journey?
I believe in the power of establishing a personal mission statement. As with an organizational mission statement, my personal mission statement guides all of my decision-making. My personal mission statement is, “Mordecai Ian Brownlee empowers others and develops systems that empower others.” As opportunities present themselves in my personal and professional journey, I always refer back to my mission statement to steer my engagement and strategy.
Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?
I was blessed to become a college president at 36 years old, and while I am very proud of that accomplishment, this meant that often I found myself in rooms where my colleagues were my senior by 15 to 30 years. Frequently, I was the center of jokes regarding the millennial generation and it began to develop within me imposter syndrome. What I had to unlearn was the poor habit of seeking the validation of my colleagues and realizing that if I wasn’t deserving, I wouldn’t be granted the opportunities I was given in the first place. By focusing on my personal drivers and providing myself with new methods of validation, I was able to regain the mental power and strength necessary to succeed in those environments.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ItsDrMordecai.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/itsdrmordecai/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ItsDrMordecai
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drmordecaibrownlee
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/ItsDrMordecai
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxHPtcMYertyr9YR2AEZV5Q
Image Credits
Credit – Community College of Aurora