What It Takes to Be an Effective Leader: A Chat with IES Abroad’s CEO Named Notable Woman Executive by Crain’s Chicago Business

Dr. Dwyer: I am honored to be recognized alongside these distinguished, successful female leaders who are paving the way for the next generation.

Careers can be defined by individual wins, but in my more than 23 years at IES Abroad, the greatest successes have been collaborative. My colleagues and I are dedicated to the fight for a better future through study abroad, and the work it takes to make it a reality. We’ve greatly increased the number of students we send abroad each year, but there’s still work to be done to ensure as many students as possible have the opportunity to broaden their worldviews, become empathetic global citizens, and be the leaders in a globalized workforce to create meaningful change.

Dr. Dwyer: It’s very easy in the complex organizational worlds, that all leaders operate in now, to get lost. I would say the most important ways that I define success are having advocacy for the mission of the organization, and building an innovative, always improving, growing, and thriving organization. I am not naïve to the fact that people measure success by awards, prizes, promotions and so forth, but that wasn’t my priority, and still isn’t my priority. It’s hard for me to accept awards because I like to shine the light on others … If I shine a light on others then they’re more likely to succeed and the organizations are more likely to succeed. Therefore, my entire focus is on helping the entire organization to succeed.

Dr. Dwyer: Their contributions are vital. We are going through a generational shift in leadership because the baby boomers are retiring, and we’re a huge bubble of the current population worldwide. Therefore, there’s great demand for future leaders and their role is extremely important.

I would suggest to them that first and foremost establish a very strong work ethic and stay focused on their priorities. Also, don’t feel entitled to career advancement. Career growth occurs for many reasons, but a strong work ethic makes a big difference. Also, be extremely flexible in the ability to move across careers and organizations.

Experiences come together no matter where you end up, or what job or industry you end up in. You have to view it as building blocks and realize that at some point it may not look like a straight line because it isn’t. Straight career lines don’t always take you to a higher place, or a better place.

Dr. Dwyer: Very early on in my career in higher education, simply because the academic department was internationally focused, I was given an international consulting experience at the age of 26, and I found myself in Egypt. I might have landed on an entirely different planet as far as I knew. Unlike the kind of preparation our students receive and deserve to receive before they go anywhere in the world, I received nothing at the time. I really had to figure it out myself.

I loved Egypt. I still love Egypt. I get concerned for the welfare of Egypt having worked there three times, but it was a dramatic experience. It basically changed my entire career trajectory because after Egypt there were six other developing countries that I taught in or consulted for and as a result Egypt and the Egyptian people hold a special place in my heart.