View From The LT'23 Cohort: Tunny Vann, LT'23, Port of Seattle

How has your idea of leadership changed this past year?

As someone who is often a convener, sends out action items, plans and facilitates meetings, and delegates tasks, I had a somewhat narrow view of what was considered leadership. Through conversations with guest speakers, my quad, my lab team, others in my cohort, and some deep reflection prompted by our collective reading of The Four Pivots, I was able to shift my perspective on leadership and realize that it doesn’t always mean being in front of an issue or the loudest person in the room. Leadership can show up in different forms, and the form I’m setting an intention of embodying is one that cultivates and enables others to show up as their true authentic selves through active listening, curiosity, empathy, and leaning into difficult or uncomfortable situations or communication styles. LT is creating an intentional space for me to practice and grow into this style of leadership, and I believe I’ll be a more well-rounded leader because of it.

What’s one thing you’ve learned about the region?

This isn’t necessarily something I learned about our region, but rather a new perspective I have on how government functions in our region. As a Seattleite and public sector employee, I often hear grumblings of the “Seattle Process,” which is often characterized by slow moving policymaking, dialogue, deliberation, and participation in the public process before a decision is made. Whether intentional or not, through the work of the Curriculum Committee, I see parallels between the “Seattle Process” and the Collective Leadership Framework. The former is often framed negatively, while in my personal opinion, the new frame of Collective Leadership has positive aspects worth highlighting, such as building trust, co-constructing a purpose and strategic plan, and sustaining the work.

I’m also learning through our racial equity work that strict adherence to any one process or framework can inadvertently impede progress and keep marginalized communities from having or realizing their own power. Challenging systems and questioning how we do things spurs innovation and creates space for those on the fringe to participate. When we cultivate and enable more diverse participation, solutions become more representative, and outcomes more equitable.

What has been a highlight of your LT experience?

The highlight of my LT experience is every opportunity I get to connect with my cohort –whether that is in small group discussions, happy hours, or other social events. I value the opportunity to learn from other leaders in our region. I hope to continue tapping into this vast knowledge base of individuals, who are determined to make our region a better place, long after the program ends.