LeBlanc is recognized for her collaboration with government agencies, non-profit organizations and private firms around the world on policies that impact citizens and the communities they live in. She is also known for her work with women and students of a variety of racial backgrounds. The topic of her lecture was recruiting women and racial minorities into the public and non-profit sectors; however, she focused her speech on leadership principles and how to infuse these principles into community service.Dr. LeBlanc started her lecture by analyzing how people tend to focus too much on what the community is doing wrong rather than talking about what is working and why.
“We need to find ways to search for common ground,” she said. “[We need to] find ideas we can agree.”
Senior History major Dominic Pinis said that the lecture was “insightful”. For him the most inspiring part of the lecture was when LeBlanc talked about the importance of creating a legacy of excellence while pursuing a career.
“Taking one issue that is your passion and pursue it wherever you can,” he said.
LeBlanc emphasized the importance of thinking globally and “outside the box.” She encouraged the audience to explore new ways of doing things and to create a learning environment everywhere.
“Don´t be myopic [narrow thinking] and objective,” she said. “Look at things how they will influence in the long run.”
She also said that leadership is unspoken and that good leaders are working on developing every day.
“The key is performance,” LeBlanc said. “´I am a leader because I want to get things done´, it´s not about the power.”
LeBlanc said that leaders often get caught in leading and forget what they want from followers.
“You can´t have a leader without followers,” she said. “It´s a partnership. You have to have an empathetic ear.”
Temitayo Fauiyesi, nursing major and member of the Black Women Association, said that the lecture was “enlightening”.
“I gained a lot as far as where leadership starts and components of leadership,” she said.
Members of the community were also present at the lecture. Arzella Kay, executive director of the High plains Institute for Applied Ecology, was one of the many community members that attended the event.
“[It was a] great lecture,” Kay said. “Dr. LeBlanc is so aware of the leadership needed and how to ignite so people go to leadership roles.”
During her lecture, LeBlanc allowed for the public to ask question and comment, making it an open discussion. LeBlanc ended her speech by stressing the importance of diversity.
“Leaders need to respect that people are different,” she said. “Everyone has something valuable to say.”
