[Why become a Fellow?] Try something new, take an adventure into the unknown and there you will discover the beauty within the process that is you. – Carolyn Gonzalez-Bright


Learning to Lead

As a Challenge Detroit Fellow I was not expecting to learn about my leadership style or to be given the space to develop my already existing skills as a leader. Coming into the program, I thought I knew everything that I could know about myself as a leader. To my surprise there was still room, not only for growth, but also for development.

On our first Challenge project, I was given the opportunity to be a team lead. A part of the design thinking process (the empathy stage) is to hold stakeholder interviews. In those interviews, it is your job as the interviewer to listen and learn from your stakeholders. This opportunity allowed me to see just how important it is to be an empathetic leader.

Having the opportunity to be in a leadership role allowed me to learn different aspects of my own personality. Using the tools and resources that I have been given through the Challenge Detroit fellowship has allowed me to develop as a leader while in the process of being a team lead.  

Coming into the fellowship, I did not know what to expect. It has been a surprise to me that leadership plays such a large role in how you develop within your career. Being intentional about how you work with others and your communication style as a teammate is continuing to develop my leadership style. This is a skill that I will value long after my fellowship is over and that I will carry with me into my career.


 

ABOUT: My name is Caroly Gonzalez-Bright, I currently reside in Southfield, MI, but I am a native Southwest Detroiter through and through.  I graduated from Oakland University with a Bachelor of Arts degree with specialization in courts, justice, and politics and a minor in African American Studies. I am a proud member of The National Political Science Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha.  I am a daughter, mom, and wife and will soon be a proud alum of Challenge Detroit. In the midst of my day-to-day, I enjoy my quiet time to reflect and recharge and I’m always down for a weekend getaway for exploration and adventure.