Helen Fagan, Founder/President - Global Leadership was our speaker at Lincoln South Rotary Club on November 22. Her topic - becoming an Inclusive Leader.

Helen shared  her personal experiences as she described what it takes to become an Inclusive leader.

She explained that anything that you feel about the words or actions of another - how you react - is based on your personal culture. Your personal culture is developed over years based on your experiences - what you have done, where you have been, all of your experiences.

This culture impacts how we engage with people. It dictates our way of thinking and our expectations of others.

We can dissect and examine the various layers or components of our culture to better understand and move toward a more inclusive world. We need to ask some hard questions and do some work to get to that point. She quoted Albert Enstein:

"We can not solve our problems with the same level of thinking that created them."

One of Helen's experiences involved a Chaplain at a hospitals where she worked. A family member was asking for special treatment during surgery. The Chaplain did not simply explain "it is against hospital policy" but instead he asked "can we talk about this a bit - tell me why this is important to your family".

Helen wanted to research what makes a person move from "it's against policy" to "help me understand".

A powerful slide that Helen shared was the Intercultural Development Continuum. It displays mindsets from DENIAL (where people miss that there are differences) to ADAPTATION (where we bridge across differences).

Those in the intercultural mindset
1. Recognize and manage own biases and assumptions
2. Curious of others’ perspectives and the experiences that shaped them
3. Ability to suspend judgement and listen with humility
4. Balance logic and emotion for optimal decision making
5. Comfortable with disruption and ambiguity
 

Do you wonder about your level of inclusion? She said you might ask yourself this question:

"Who would you NOT WANT your child to bring home as their future spouse?"

 

About Helen:

 

Helen has a BA in Human Resource Management and Economics from the University of Nebraska and an MA in Management with emphasis in Leadership from Doane College. Helen also studied International Economics and British Political Economy at Oxford University. She finished her Ph.D. in 2014 in Human Sciences with emphasis in Leadership Studies at UNL.

She has over 25 years experience in the Human Resource Field and has worked in many areas including Training, Benefits, Payroll, Recruitment and Diversity.

Helen became a Certified Diversity Trainer through the Society for Human Resource Management in 2001 and qualified for administering the Intercultural Development Inventory in 2006.

She has been an active member of the Lincoln community. She is a Fellow of Leadership Lincoln and a former Board member of Clinic with a Heart Board, YWCA, Food Bank of Lincoln, Lincoln Journal Star Diversity Council, Lincoln/Lancaster County Women’s Commission, Child Guidance Center Board, and Adult Basic Education Advisory Board at Southeast Community College. Helen was instrumental in the development of the Interpreter Training Program at SCC, and has helped address employment and healthcare needs of refugees and immigrants by her involvement in our community.

In 2000, Helen became the first ever Diversity Coordinator for Bryan Health System. Helen created a nationally recognized hospital diversity initiative. In 2007, Helen re-signed her full-time position due to health reasons and began teaching part time at Bryan College of Health Sciences and co-facilitating the Leading Edge at Doane College.

While Helen’s life has been filled with challenges, and changes, Helen used her experiences to help others. From her first volunteer role as the Ombudsman for the USS Raleigh, which she received a Letter of Commendation from the Admiral of the Navy, to her efforts in helping Bryan Health System’s nurses from the Philippines learn how to live successful lives in the United States, to helping refugees settle in Lincoln; Helen has been a dedicated friend to many.

Because of her work and dedication, she was one of the recipients of the 2001 KZUM Cultural Awareness Award, in 2002 was recognized by Lincoln Journal Star as one of twenty Leaders under age 40 whose work was positively impacting Lincoln. Then Mayor Coleen Seng gave Helen a ‘Key-to-the-City’ in January 2004, before Helen’s keynote address at the Martin Luther King, Jr. breakfast. This was to honor Helen for her work and commitment to make the dream of Dr. King come true for all people. And in October 2005, Helen was awarded the Prestigious YWCA Tribute to Women Award for her dedication to eliminating the barriers for refugees and immigrants to gain access to quality healthcare. Helen has been recognized for her outstanding teaching by the UNL Parent Association for (2012 & 2013), and by the UNL College of Ag and Natural Resources (2013); and she has also been recognized for her outstanding service by the Doane College Alumni Association (2013).

Because of her work which exemplifies the ideals of Rotary, Helen was presented with a Paul Harris Fellow by Lincoln South Rotary Club at the 2019 Rotary District 5650 Conference.