“Effective Leadership through Pop Culture – Harry Potter and Beyond” with Professor Aditya Simha
On the 19th of November 2024, DRM was delighted to have Professor Aditya Simha virtually attending the Power Lecture Session designed for Doctoral Students to gain further knowledge and have interactive discussion.
Professor Simha is a respected Professor of Management at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, with a Ph.D from Washington State University. His research spans critical topics such as business ethics, healthcare ethics, leadership, and organizational behavior, with over 70 publications in prestigious journals, including the Journal of Business Ethics and Academy of Management Perspectives. Additionally, he’s renowned for blending leadership insights with pop culture, authoring works that explore leadership lessons through the lens of the Harry Potter series.
Presentation Overview
Professor Simha’s presentation revolved around the innovative connection between pop culture and leadership, with Harry Potter serving as an accessible model to explore complex leadership theories. He discussed the evolution of leadership styles and the relevance of pop culture in understanding leadership attributes.
Using Dumbledore as an example of servant leadership, Simha demonstrated how relatable characters can clarify leadership concepts. Harry Potter’s growth as a leader was examined through his relationships with friends like Ron and Hermione, who act as support systems, as well as through contrasts with flawed leaders like Umbridge and Voldemort, who exemplify authoritarian and unethical leadership styles.
Leadership Styles Explored
Professor Simha provided an overview of various leadership styles, including:
- Authentic Leadership
- Charismatic Leadership
- Servant Leadership
- Authoritarian Leadership
He emphasized attributes of effective leaders, such as empathy, emotional intelligence, and the value of mentorship, urging followers to challenge leaders constructively for optimal outcomes.
The Role of Mentorship
Drawing from Harry Potter’s narrative, Professor Simha highlighted positive mentorship examples:
- Hagrid: Emphasizes the importance of embracing diversity.
- Sirius Black: Illustrates the value of risk-taking in leadership.
He encouraged participants to seek mentors proactively to further their career and personal growth.
Contemporary Leadership Challenges and Future
Professor Simha delved into Gen Z leadership dynamics, exploring generational differences in communication and tolerance for authoritarian leadership. He stressed the necessity for modern leaders to adapt their styles to diverse cultural contexts and communication preferences. Professor Simha shared insights from his upcoming book, which creatively links dog breeds to leadership qualities. He explained how attributes such as loyalty, empathy, patience and protectiveness in dogs can serve as metaphors for effective leadership.
Audience Interaction
The session concluded with a lively Q&A, where participants discussed topics such as the impact of pop culture on personality development and strategies for leading Gen Z effectively. Professor Simha provided practical advice on balancing leadership styles to suit different audiences. The session also closed by reflecting on the importance of a holistic approach to leadership and the potential for pop culture to enhance leadership understanding. He encouraged ongoing collaboration and exploration of diverse perspectives to enrich leadership practices globally.
