Dalhousie University Leaders

Becoming Canada's best university

Dr. Traves, addressing an audience at the Faculty of Management earlier this year.

Leaders as catalysts

Dalhousie needs fully engaged leaders to act as catalysts for change if we want to achieve our strategic goals. Effective leaders can shape our future by inspiring us and helping us realize our full potential. For those in leadership positions, this process is incredibly fulfilling.

On a daily basis, leadership is often transactional in nature – administering our policies and procedures to get the job done well. But in the long run, effective leadership must be more than this. It requires transformational thinking that helps us appreciate a more exciting vision and understand how we can mobilize our efforts and resources to achieve amazing outcomes.

Our academic community, which treasures independence, critical thinking and free expression, creates unique leadership challenges that set us apart from the private sector and government. That said, we all share the common challenge of sustaining growth in an environment characterized by economic uncertainty and increased competition. So, effective leadership matters greatly, here as elsewhere.

In recent years, the Dalhousie community has built a strong foundation for success. From this base, we can and must launch attractive initiatives to enhance our reputation for excellence and secure the resources we need to become Canada’s best university. I am confident of our prospects and invite everyone to develop your leadership skills to help us reach this exciting goal.

Tom Traves
August 2011