Educational Series Supports Key Leaders in Namibia

The success of any organization depends, in large part, on the quality of its leaders. Integrity, poise, and dedication are at the heart of great leadership, but what is the difference between strong leadership and strong management? How does a good leader translate his or her vision into practice, stay nimble in the face of competing obligations, and continue to harness and strengthen the skills and talents that brought her to the position?

These fundamental questions were among the topics 24 key leaders explored this week in Namibia, during the first workshop of the three part Leaders in Health educational series. 

The series, designed to further strengthen health care systems in Namibia through effective mentoring of health leaders, managers, and teachers, brought together leaders from collaborative Namibian institutions, including the Ministry of Health and Social Services, the Ministry of Defense, the University of Namibia, and I-TECH. 

The workshops are led by I-TECH Co-Director Ann Downer; Aaron Katz, Director of the University of Washington's (UW) Global Health Leadership Program (GHLP); and Anita Verna Crofts, UW Clinical Instructor and GHLP Communications Director.

During the first session, participants studied and discussed the nuances of leadership and management and practiced team building and communications skills. As "homework," they will finalize personal vision statements and digitally document how they came to their current leadership roles.

The series will be complemented by a new distance-based course called "Global Program Management and Evaluation," which will be offered through the UW, and will conclude with a final face-to-face workshop in June 2010.