Today we’d like to introduce you to Dr. Leigh Anne Taylor Knight.
Hi, Dr. Leigh Anne. We’re so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
My mission statement, crafted during my college years, has been a steadfast guide in my career journey. It reads: “Improve the quality of life for others in their near and far environments.” This statement has grown with me and has been the driving force behind each step I’ve taken.
As Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of The DeBruce Foundation, I care deeply about helping people pursue meaningful careers; I would love for each person to have the opportunity to build a career in which they can use their unique strengths and interests, create financial stability for their family, and be empowered to thrive in any workplace. My career journey has shaped me and led me to the work of helping individuals expand their career pathways. I’ve always been a creative person–in fact, my first bachelor’s degree was in Environmental Design. I loved the idea of creating aesthetically pleasing spaces where people could connect. Just out of college, I taught secondary students in an alternative school. I reveled in the opportunity to make daily connections and a positive impact on the students in my classroom. I also profoundly understood that some of my most important work would be to help them thrive in their next season of life. Even if my students still needed to understand or have confidence in the value of their abilities and passions, I wanted to help them reach the point where they believed they had value and were made for more than they could have imagined. My time in the classroom led to my becoming Assistant Superintendent in the North Kansas City School District, where I could impact more students and support educators throughout the district.
My role as an administrator transitioned to an opportunity to lead the Kansas City Area Education Research Consortium, which allowed me to move even further upstream in terms of identifying policy solutions and best practices that could be applied throughout Kansas City P–20 education and beyond each time I pivoted in my career, it was because there was a unique opportunity for me to have an impact on a greater number of people. Each step has informed and inspired my belief in empowering people to succeed in their careers.
Today, I have the honor of leading a dedicated team at The DeBruce Foundation. Together, we are committed to expanding career pathways. Our work is focused on helping individuals at various stages of their careers –whether they are starting, pivoting, or re-entering the workforce– to build a higher quality of life for themselves and their families. By helping them recognize the value of their interests and skills in the workforce, we empower them to make informed career decisions.
It wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
My journey has been like a roller coaster: there have been ups and downs, but the ride has always been fun! You are not always going to know what comes next, but when you get to the other side, you are better for it because it prepares you for what’s ahead. In leadership, you are there to serve and support your team. While doing so, you end up learning so much along the way. I’d love to share a few learnings with you.
My biggest leadership lessons came during transitions within an organization. Many people do not like change, which can make these moments feel unsettling and uncomfortable. During these moments, the best action I can take is to look for what I can to make a difference. These questions help me start: “Who am I in this situation?” “How am I going to show up every day?” “How will I present myself to the team?”
Another lesson I learned during tough times is now a phrase that has stuck with me. I now use it often with my team: “Truth works.” I want to be true to my leadership, myself, and those I serve at every opportunity. Truth works. While we don’t choose what happens to us, we choose how we respond. Every day, we get to decide how we will show up to the challenges that arise. Stay true to who you are and stay humble.
Lastly, during difficult situations, it is always important to reflect on them and ask yourself: “What am I supposed to be learning right now?” We do not always know what God’s plan will be, but I do know He has one. Never be afraid to share your journey by reflecting and writing down your experiences. You can still learn from those lessons every day.
Thanks for sharing that. Would you be willing to tell us a bit more about your work next?
At The DeBruce Foundation, our mission is to expand career pathways. We are committed to helping individuals unlock their potential and find career pathways in our ever-changing economy. Established by civic leader and successful entrepreneur Paul DeBruce in 1988, The DeBruce Foundation is a national foundation based in Kansas City, Missouri. We conduct and commission career-related research, develop initiatives, and form partnerships to equip individuals for careers. I am fortunate every day to be part of the DeBruce family’s generosity and to work with such an innovative team of entrepreneurs, educators, business leaders, researchers, and specialists.
The Foundation’s Employment Empowerment research might interest our readers or those they serve, as it explores what it takes to build careers with higher wages, less risk of unemployment, better benefits, more autonomy over work conditions, and the ability to build savings. This research is shared in Start Early, Succeed Sooner: Insights from the 2023 Employment Empowerment Study. It revealed two key factors: career literacy and network strength. Knowing how to navigate a career and having a supportive network around you makes a bigger difference than many people realize, and each can be taught and developed. When network strength and career literacy are combined, an individual’s employment empowerment is achieved. Employment empowerment results in a higher income and better benefits influence over work conditions, savings accumulation, confidence to explore more careers, and a lower risk of unemployment.
Another initiative that will hit home for many readers is The DeBruce Foundation’s Graduation Toolkit. It’s our gift to the graduating seniors, and it’s a suite of free career tools that are invaluable in helping them figure out what’s next in their career journey! The career tools in the Graduation Toolkit help them gain awareness of their skills, discover where their interests align with workforce opportunities, and devise a plan to get there. Many graduates might be unsure of the next steps to take after graduation, but the Toolkit is here to provide the support and guidance they need to explore the variety of opportunities that are out in the world. We invite all graduates, educators, and career counselors to discover how it can transform your journey toward success.
Lastly, we want to invite all of the readers to join us for our highly anticipated annual event during National Career Development Month on November 19th, 2024. We are thrilled to be releasing our newest career research and new career-building resources. We have had a wonderful year at The Foundation, and we cannot wait to share what we have been working on with all of you!
Where we are in life is often partly because of others. Who/what else deserves credit for how your story turned out?
The credit always goes back to my team! I’m a sports fan through and through, and every athlete knows the power of who is cheering in your stands and who is on your team. For me, team means “together, everyone achieves more,” my team includes my family, friends, work, collaborators, and community. They have ridden the roller coasters with me through all the highs and lows. I have learned that you should always appreciate the power of your team. Every person brings a unique presence; switch up the game plan to capitalize on their strengths. Through every “game,” you can keep building your strategy, focusing on what has been successful. As a team, we can accomplish many more things together than we could ever do apart.
Pricing:
- At The DeBruce Foundation, we love research insights and acting on them even more. So, I will not tell you about our research; I will give you something you can do immediately: increase your career literacy with our online tools. They’re based on research, developed by our team, and available to you for free on Agilities.org as part of our charitable mission:
- Agile Work Profiler is a career assessment that provides you with a list of your current skills and interests—what we call your Abilities—as they relate to the workforce.
- Career Explorer Tools: a suite of interactive online tools to learn about the income, preparation, work activities, and demand for each career.
- Draw Your Future with Agilities: a fun activity that helps you think critically about your Abilities related to your current reality, desired future, and steps to achieve your goals.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://debruce.org/ and https://agilities.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/debrucefound/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DeBruceFound
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/debrucefound/ and https://www.linkedin.com/in/latknight/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/debrucefound and https://twitter.com/LATKnight
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFJ720JL3zC867iZsZQ9GTQ
- Other: https://www.threads.net/@debrucefound
