LEAD Live event sparks real talk on leadership, learning, collaboration

What happens when students get the mic and a top university leader leans in to listen? You get LEAD Live鈥攁n evening of open dialogue, fresh insight, and real-world learning that defines Walter Center for Strategic Leadership experiences.

During the spring semester, the Walter Center for Strategic Leadership in the College of Business hosted a standout session of its LEAD Live series featuring Executive Vice President and Provost Donald Leo. New to the University this academic year, Leo brought energy, candor and vision to a room full of driven students and future leaders.

Co-hosted by Emerging Leaders President Lily Branch and Wandell Fellows President Ryan Koenig, the night was anything but a typical Q&A.

鈥淭his isn鈥檛 about speeches,鈥� said Jen Traxler, director of the Walter Center, kicking off the evening. 鈥淚t鈥檚 about connection.鈥� She highlighted the center's powerhouse programs鈥攆rom Emerging Leaders and Wandell Fellows to Leadership Launchpad and graduate certificates in human resources management and strategic leadership鈥攁ll designed to equip students for impact.

That impact was front and center as students shared how these programs have shaped their paths.

When Provost Leo took the stage, he didn鈥檛 just talk about policy or strategy鈥攈e spoke about people. He said collaboration is at the heart of how things get done.

鈥淭he real strength of a university is the people who believe in its mission,鈥� he said. 鈥淲hen the president, deans and faculty align around student success, big things happen.鈥�

The conversation touched on everything from leadership under pressure to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Leo didn鈥檛 dodge the tough stuff; instead, he leaned in.

鈥淎I isn鈥檛 going anywhere,鈥� he said. 鈥淵ou鈥檒l be expected to use it鈥攑rofessionally, ethically, effectively. And here at OHIO, we鈥檙e committed to helping you do that.鈥�

That mindset鈥攂lending tech fluency with values鈥攊s already reshaping the College of Business curriculum.

Branch and Koenig kept the conversation honest, even playful at times. One highlight? A hypothetical question: Would Leo rather travel back in time to give his younger self advice or jump ahead to see his leadership鈥檚 long-term impact?

He laughed. 鈥淚鈥檇 go forward. Not for the legacy鈥攖o see what鈥檚 next. And maybe because it means I鈥檓 closer to retirement,鈥� he joked, drawing laughs from the crowd.

But the night wasn鈥檛 all jokes. When students asked about his daily routine, purpose, and engagement with the Athens community, Leo answered with transparency鈥攁nd a steady reminder that leadership starts with listening, learning, and showing up.

After the panel, students stuck around, asking more questions, making connections, and reflecting on what it means to lead鈥攔ight now and in the future.

Koenig summed it up best: 鈥淚t鈥檚 one thing to learn leadership in class. It鈥檚 another to practice it in moments like this. Ten out of ten experience.鈥�

The LEAD Live series continues to do what great education should do: breaking down walls between students and decision-makers, turning ideas into action, and making room for the kind of conversations that move people forward.