Katrenia Reed Hughes, associate professor of organizational leadership at 鶹Ʒ in Indianapolis, knows there is not just one path to becoming an effective leader. Her professional journey has included work in psychology, organizational development, corporate learning and higher education. Across those experiences, Reed Hughes has remained interested in how people build trust, navigate influence and lead effectively across different environments.
“It feels like sometimes other people have a book that we don't have that teaches them how to become a super professional,” Reed Hughes said. “A large part of my work is helping people realize that leadership is not reserved for the loudest voice in the room or the person with the highest title.”
While Reed Hughes knows the secret of good leadership doesn't come from the pages of a book, her teaching, research and industry engagement have helped shape her perspective on how professionals build influence and lead effectively. In project management especially, success often depends on the ability to “lead without authority.”