People often ask me what an anthropologist, much less a “corporate anthropologist,” does. I share many of these business stories in our award-winning book, “On the Brink: A fresh lens to take your business to new heights.” (You can read a free chapter here: www.andisimon.com) In the book, I reflect on our wide range of clients in industries ranging from innovators of water filler stations to battery design manufacturers, healthcare clients, and universities. Some of my favorite work, however, has been designing and running management training and leadership development programs for clients over the past several years. Let me share how, as an anthropologist, I see my role in helping emerging leaders to “see, feel, and think” about their jobs through a fresh lens. I learned early in my training that the power of anthropology is to help others see what is right before them.
Building an Impactful Leadership Academy Needs an Anthropological Perspective
For the past five years, I’ve had the privilege of running a Leadership Academy for a 14-hospital healthcare client serving rural communities. This Leadership Academy is one of several that I have been involved with for multiple years. Some are for non-profits; others are for companies in the services industry. Each is designed specifically for the needs of the organization and their emerging managers and leaders.
For this healthcare client, they conduct an annual, competitive selection process from which a dozen emerging leaders are chosen — individuals recognized for their potential to shape the future of healthcare within their organization. What inspires me is the energy, creativity, and fresh ideas these bright professionals bring to the table. They have serious leadership and management challenges. And they’re eager to tackle them, if only they knew how. When we talk about a growth mindset, they bring that mindset with them. Our job is to help them see their roles in new ways.
Empowering Emerging Leaders Through Actionable Experiences
Our program is not just about teaching leadership theory; it’s about real-world application. Participants come from diverse roles across the healthcare system—some manage emergency rooms, others set up materials management systems, and one is even in charge of expanding their home health program. This diversity is what makes the Academy so enriching. It’s fascinating to see these leaders from different areas come together, share their perspectives, and begin to understand the complexities of each other’s roles. This process fosters collaboration within their own teams and across the hospital system as a whole.
How do Emerging Leaders Learn New Skills?
People learn best through experiential and visual learning methods. What does that really mean?
A recent session focused on team building, which is crucial for leaders who manage large, complex staff members who are often spread out remotely. In our two-day in-person program, we dove deeply into the dynamics of understanding the people they lead. The goal is to refine their leadership styles. It’s not just about managing others—it’s about leading, inspiring, and bringing out the best in others. It takes more than a lecture to learn these skills. It always helps if you experience it.
So we did. We built models for how to think through a team building process. Of particular importance is that this is a process.
Teambuilding is particularly complex. You are trying to get many different people to embrace a common goal or vision and then create team habits so people can work in sync to get the jobs done. In this session, we focused on the work of Mark Samuels, whose book, “Reimagining Teams,” provides an excellent approach to getting results in team building work. You can listen to Mark’s podcast with us for “On the Brink with Andi Simon” to learn more about his approach and impact on team building.
Or watch it here:
Personal Growth Comes with Professional Development
One of the most rewarding parts of the Academy is seeing personal growth over the year. People can see the link between their professional skill development and their skills in building relationships, spending self-care time, and finding ways to engage with people inside and outside the organization. You have to admire their rising Emotional Intelligence developing.
As we wrap up another successful year, I reflect on these leaders’ growth, resilience, and adaptability. We are already starting to recruit for next year’s cohort. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue guiding and learning alongside such a remarkable group of emerging healthcare leaders. I look forward with excitement and anticipation for what next year will bring.
Leadership is a journey, and being part of it is a privilege
Your organization may be ready for a serious Leadership Academy or Management Development Program. Contact us, and we can discuss how to design the right program for your needs and those of your staff.
From Observation to Innovation,
CEO | Corporate Anthropologist | Author
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