I am honored to be selected as 1 of 28 members to the 10th AUA Leadership Class. Notably, 10 is my favorite number (and that of Lionel Messi), so I am optimistic this will be a special journey. At the time of this writing, I have benefited from significant interaction in small groups as well as with the entire class. Following a virtual introduction, 2 things stood out. First, the AUA is very interested in engaging and growing the next series of leaders. Second, our class is filled with diverse, talented individuals.

Selfishly, I am excited to get to know my classmates and to explore who they are, what they do, and hear about their life stories. We all have hopes, dreams, and fears, and I am sanguine that our class will create a space of shared vulnerability united through a common purpose.

Leadership is the ability to influence others to understand and agree on what needs to be done and how to do it. Importantly, it includes the process of facilitating individual and collective efforts to accomplish shared objectives. During our leadership weekend, we were introduced to the leadership, structure, and mission of the AUA. My hope is that by understanding the AUA’s organizational leadership and priorities we can engage and align with its mission and purpose.

I see opportunity for us to grow as a group, whose collective effort and impact will be greater than that for each of us individually. As we get to know each other, our networks will multiply and our evolution as connectors will amplify logarithmically. This is the power of like-minded individuals working towards a common purpose.

I am excited to be a part of this extraordinary program. We have all come volitionally to contribute, learn, and promote the AUA. I hope we can all be uncomfortable together, take chances, challenge each other, and do our part to set and carry out the vision for the AUA.