The event GROW Pasco 2024 was the backdrop for retired Colonel and University of South Florida instructor Jay Powers, wherein he guided entrepreneurs and leaders toward success earlier this month using the expertise he developed as a U.S. Army Green Beret and leader within Joint Special Operations.
GROW Pasco is an event designed to equip local entrepreneurs and executives for growth in the evolving business landscape. Hosted by the SMARTstart entrepreneurship program at Pasco EDC, it provides educational and networking opportunities for business owners in the area. With a full schedule of speakers, including business and community leaders, and breakout sessions throughout the day, attendees learned how to leverage everything from marketing and social media to artificial intelligence.
USF鈥檚 Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education attended to absorb more knowledge, connect with others in the local community, and see unique perspectives on entrepreneurial success.
Weaving Leadership with Self-Care
Powers emphasized key aspects of leadership and organizational growth in his presentation, 鈥淟ead Your Way to Entrepreneurial Success,鈥� and coupled these observations with valuable perspectives he鈥檚 gained as COO at Tampa Bay Wave, a renowned non-profit accelerator dedicated to tech company growth and the development of Tampa Bay's tech ecosystem.
He honed in on the similarities and differences between the characteristics of successful entrepreneurs and leaders. Good leaders have strengths such as delegation, integrity, empathy, and respect, while entrepreneurs have characteristics such as flexibility, curiosity, persistence, and innovative thinking. Both should have self-awareness to reflect on their actions and how they affect others.
鈥淭here鈥檚 no single approach to leadership that will work for every person and situation, that's why it's difficult,鈥� Powers said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 important to get feedback to know how you鈥檙e truly impacting people.鈥�
He believes people are the critical resource for any organization to succeed, so leaders should strive to create environments where people can thrive.
He also stressed the importance of balancing your business efforts with the other essential areas of your life. Be sure to prioritize sleep, exercise, family, and other parts of your personal life to ensure you bring the best version of yourself to your organization. 鈥淚f you take the time to invest in it, family can be one of your biggest sources of resilience,鈥� he said.
Ultimately, Powers had two major takeaways:
One: Identify when you need to do less and lead more.
Two: Take a long-term approach to balance.
By getting to know your team, prioritizing feedback, giving people space to take initiative, and taking care of yourself, you can set yourself up with a strong foundation for success both in business and your life.
The impact of his speech was evident in the long line of attendees who patiently waited to chat with him after the presentation. .
Level Up Your Skills
For a unique opportunity to learn from an experienced leadership practitioner, join Powers for the next session of his course, 鈥淓xecutive Leadership Lessons,鈥� starting Friday, April 5. Designed to accommodate the schedules of busy professionals, this course provides an overview of how to build positive environments, encourage employee input, give and receive feedback, and build trust.
Register here or contact David Hill, associate director of the Office of Corporate Training and Professional Education, at djhill4@usf.edu for more information.