Nate’s Notes 232: Ian Williamson, Dean of The UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business | The Case for Long-Term Leadership

What an interesting perspective Ian shared on his role as Dean. He sees himself as a steward, making decisions for the person who comes after him, recognizing that he’s caring for something that existed long before him and will continue long after him. “And what a powerful example of long-term thinking Ian encountered with the Māori leaders, who asked, ‘How will this decision affect our great-grandchildren?’”

Not all leadership looks the same, and it’s perfectly fine for some leaders to focus on the short term. But the key is being intentional about what our role demands and what kind of leader we want to be.

It’s a simple idea. Please take it seriously.

Ian Williamson Bio:

Ian Williamson is dean of The UC Irvine Paul Merage School of Business. Prior to joining the Merage School, he served as pro vice-chancellor and dean of commerce at the Wellington School of Business and Government at Victoria University of Wellington, New Zealand.

Ian has also served as a faculty member in business schools in Australia, Switzerland, and Indonesia.

Ian is a globally recognized expert in the area of human resource management and his research has been published in leading academic journals and covered by leading media outlets across the world.

Ian received his PhD from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a bachelor’s degree in business from Miami University.