Our conversation with executive coach and Shipley alumna Fredricka Brecht ’68 explored her insights from years of experience working with highly intelligent, motivated leaders, along with some of the conscious and effective practices she helps them employ. We touched on the importance of having grace and emotional intelligence as a part of one’s leadership style and, perhaps most importantly, understanding that caring about all the stakeholders of a community or organization is one of the surest paths of success and fulfillment. Fred shared some strategies for harnessing this beautiful power of collective action and well-being, the neurochemistry it causes, and the ultimate satisfaction and success it leads to. It was a fascinating conversation, filled with insights for anyone looking to become a better leader of a team, business or institution.

Fredericka Brecht '68 has spent the better part of the past two decades as an award-winning coach to groups of C-suite executives for Vistage, one of the world’s largest and most premier executive coaching firms. Before that, she founded Pennzoil’s international division, building it to $80 million in sales, ten overseas manufacturing sites, and sales in 50 foreign countries.