"...Any kind of design is in some way an intrusive activity. You are always designing for somebody else, and whether that somebody else seems exactly like you or very different, you are extending your worldview and offering it to others through the things you create. Design is a use of power; recognize this, and think carefully about the effect you have on others when you wield it.  In addition to the what, consider also the who. Get in the habit of asking yourself, “what is it about me and my background that gives me the authority, power, and access to try to address this problem? Will my contributions be valued or seen automatically as better (or worse) because of who I am? How might that affect the creative work that results?” (Fast Company, September 21)

"Recommendations:  What does this mean for companies and their leaders today? The researchers write that communication competence — and leadership effectiveness — can be nurtured through developmental challenges and diverse experiences.  They recommend organizations:

Ensure that expatriates are exposed to a broad set of experiences, such as global rotations programs.

Consider exposing their employees to a range of foreign postings rather than one lengthy foreign posting.

The researchers also recommend individuals pursue multinational educational programs (e.g., global MBA) that allow them to engage with different cultures, advice echoed by leadership at MIT Sloan Global Programs." (MIT Sloan, 26 July 21)

"...And we’ll look to David Bowie for some instruction here. Bowie, at the end of his career said, “When I look back at four decades of all these characters I’ve had, from Aladdin Sane, to Thin White Duke, to Halloween Jack, to Lazarus, I see that at the core, I’m a songwriter and I’ve written about three or four themes my entire life, things like loneliness, isolation.”  And I think that’s really instructive because when you think of Bowie, you think of someone that is constantly changing, don’t you? And both Madonna and Lady Gaga have said they took that same blueprint. But actually what’s happening is you have an example of somebody who really understands their core, understands what they’re good at, understands what they’re passionate about, and then rotates the collaborators, the cast of characters, the ideas around that core idea. So getting to your core is actually the secret to being able to change." (HBR IdeaCast)

"UMBC is one of only twelve programs that have an academic equivalency relationship with INCOSE. And at this time, UMBC’s System Engineering program is the only program in the state of Maryland with academic equivalency.  This is important to UMBC students because it provides an employer indication of the depth of the student’s systems engineering knowledge. At this time, employers are asking for this credential for systems engineers. This INCOSE certification is listed in job postings oftentimes, especially if it’s in the government, government contract work, or defense aerospace. It provides a value add to UMBC graduates along with a differentiator from their peer,” states Woodrow Winchester III, Ph.D." (UMBC OPS, July 2021)