Point/Counterpoint: Are Outstanding Leaders Born or Made?

Abstract

The question of whether outstanding leaders are born or made has been debated for years. There are numerous examples of historical figures that came naturally to leadership, while others developed their leadership skills through tenacity and experience. To understand leadership, both nature (the genetic component) and nurture (the environmental influences) must be considered. This article represents the work of two Academic Leadership Fellows Program groups who debated each position at the 2016 American Association of Colleges of Pharmacy (AACP) Interim Meeting in Tampa, Fla., in February 2016.

Publication Records and Bibliometric Indices of Pharmacy School Deans

“…Leadership requires a wide variety of skills. 37,38 As a CEO dean, it is impossible to be an expert in all areas of pharmaceutical science, practice, management, leadership, budgeting, fundraising, strategic planning, and human resources. An analogy might be drawn from the arena of sports coaching.…”

Female Leader’s Experiences within Sport Organizations: A Thematic Analysis

“…The question of whether these strong females are nurtured in their leadership roles or if these women have advanced in their professions because of their strong qualities is raised by the distinguished characteristics shared by these women. Previous research has shown conflicting results regarding whether a person develops leadership skills through time or is born with them [36,37]. Female leaders stand out in environments where men predominate because they see themselves as powerful individuals and leaders.…”

Completing the Academic Leadership Fellows Program During the Pandemic

“…Many past cohorts have published guidance documents or statement papers related to their debate topics. [1][2][3] The two teams involved in our debate topic have worked together on a manuscript, generating more networking and a great opportunity to better know fellows outside of their teams.…”