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Personal Reflection/Anecdote

DKG Ignite: Leaders Empowering

Leaders 2024

By Wendy Hacke

To commemorate Delta Kappa Gamma’s 50th anniversary,
the Society established the International Golden Gift Fund
in 1979. Ignite: Leaders Empowering Leaders Program
is a leadership management seminar conducted at and in
conjunction with the University of Texas McCombs School
of Business in Austin. The program is currently offered every
even year, usually in July, to DKG members throughout the
Society.
The International Leadership Development/Golden
Gift Fund Committee works to provide a program to
build extensive networks internationally while fostering
relationships that can lead to collaboration among diverse
state organizations. Opportunities for mentorship are
extensive and are what drew me to apply to the Class of 2024
Ignite Seminar. I have wanted to participate in the Ignite
program since the early-2000s; therefore, I was overjoyed
when I got the congratulations letter in January 2024 and
International Leadership Development/ learned that I was one of just 20 women selected out of a
Golden Gift Chair Candi Martin (right)
embraces the author at Ignite! significant number of applicants to participate in this once-
in-a-lifetime opportunity!
The Austin School of Business offers multi-faceted
skills development that addresses both professional and personal growth. This year’s cohort heard several
outstanding speakers who are leaders in their fields. Topics ranging from nutrition to physical/mental
well-being and self-care were presented by Dr. Art Markman, Dr. Becca North, Dr. Katie Pritchette, Dr.
Dixie Stanforth, and Professor Katie Lower. Leadership speakers—Dr. Melissa Murphey, Dr. John Daily,
Dr. Randy Wilt, Dr. Kristie Loescher, Dr. Doug Dierking, Dr. Richard Grant, and Dr. Gaylan Paulson—
presented topics such as advocacy, negotiations, conflict management, effective leadership styles/
personality types, and the influences of such types on leadership.
Highlights for me were professional growth and personal development. As a DKG member with 7
years’ experience in public school and university administration, I considered myself adept at presentations,
conflict management, and organizational leadership. What I learned through participation in the various
scholarly presentations was that I had more to learn. For instance, during the lecture on presentations, the
speaker pointed out that “the more you say, the less I hear”—so I need to keep what I say clear and focused.
I also learned that the best way to focus on the audience and learning is to use active listening to talk with
and not at participants. Another example of learning more came through the lectures on Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator. Understanding the framework helped me see how I can build better relationships and
achieve my goals faster because I have stronger tools to use for conflict management and organizational
leadership. Participating in this year’s Ignite seminar helped me hone current skills and add many new
skills that will enhance my course presentations, provide leadership in my department, and build stronger
organizational relationships as an adjunct professor and Teacher Education Associate at my university.

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