Weekly Wisdom 007 - Angel Cabrera

Bridget Burns, Executive Director of the University Innovation Alliance, and Jeff Selingo, author, columnist, and special advisor at Arizona State University, are inviting insight and experiences from presidents and chancellors of universities navigating the challenge in real-time. The seventh guest is Angel Cabrera, president of Georgia Institute of Technology. Angel Cabrera has been running institutions for the past 15 years. This coming September 2020, will be his first year with Georgia Institute of Technology as its president.

Leading During the Pandemic

Angel Cabrera has been running institutions for the past 15 years. This coming September 2020, will be his first year with Georgia Institute of Technology as its president. He said that leading during these times needs a hands-on leadership approach. An essential part of running an organization is setting up a set of directions to create a shared mission with his fellow faculty members and students.

His Vision and Plan

Does COVID-19 change his vision and strategies? Yes. His strategic plan for higher education has developed into a more inclusive approach. He is focusing on studying the effects of remote and online training and creating hybrid-type learning. He states that after COVID, they will teach differently. Be it online or on campus.

His Advice For Incoming Presidents and Chancellors

It is not an ideal time to start during these times, but it is what it is. Angel Cabrera shares that incoming leaders should make time to find space to have a deeper connection with the institution’s people and always to see the sense of purpose of the university.

He also mentioned that looking at endless examples of leadership by students and faculty gives him hope and inspiration. And that seeing their resilience on full display puts his hopeful vision into action.