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Group dynamic creates community change
Taryn Edwards, Vice President, Hensel Phelps Construction Company
Leadership Denver Class of 2006
Taryn Edwards, a 2006 graduate of Leadership Denver (LD), still takes inspiration from the relationships she built during the program.
Edwards credits the program with helping her and her classmates to create a real dialogue on change. To help current class members find the same dynamic, Edwards advised, “Be prepared to lead and let your opinion be known. Challenge the current thinking process. You will find often that there will be others in your group who feel the same way.”
Today, Edwards’ LD relationships still touch her. “I can still call any of my classmates to bounce ideas off of,” Edwards says. “All of us had a similar perspective and drive focused on our community and leadership within the community. This focus and drive was magnified throughout the year when our class focused on issues and project synergy.”
The class learned, Edwards said, just how much a group can accomplish — and in her opinion, that’s what makes the program so powerful.
In addition to the lasting relationships whose seeds were planted in LD class days, Edwards believes Leadership Denver established her philosophy of how important it is to have many perspectives, and to avoid the easy reflex of being locked within one’s own views.
“The sum of the parts is greater than the whole,” she remembers. “It made me realize how much bigger the end result can be.”
While she recognizes that Denver, like the nation, faces many challenges at this time, Edwards also believes Denver is at an exciting turning point.
“Denver is at the threshold of being one of the greatest cities socially and economically. We have the makings, with our position in green energy, bioscience, aerospace and a jewel of an airport, to strategically position ourselves in national markets,” she said. “We also lead in our community leadership. Our leaders need to be able to take risks in order to position our community for the next two decades. The standard way of doing business does not work anymore. Understanding our past in order to utilize the lessons moving forward is critical.”
Leadership Denver, Edwards believes, produces the perfect mix of leaders who will be able to accomplish much.
“Since there is such a great cross section from all industries represented, issues can be looked at from all angles,” Edwards said. “Every year’s group will find a rhythm and strength that will open up a whole new view for all of its members. This view or thought usually is much greater than that of one single individual.”
Interviewer: Emma Watson, University of Northern Colorado, Colorado Leadership Alliance Class of 2009
July 23rd, 2009 at 9:29 pm
Taryn — I agree, we are fortunate to live in such a great city! Nice to hear from you again.
Sherry
August 6th, 2010 at 12:24 am
Emma Watson is really pretty! I extremely adore her.