University of Minnesota Athletics
YWCA President & CEO Speaks to Adaptive Leadership
4/26/2022 12:10:00 PM | Leadership U
Shelley Carthen Watson, President and CEO of YWCA Minneapolis, joined Gopher Athletics to celebrate and conclude Women's History Month for a Leadership U Speaker Series event on March 31. Carthen Watson shared her knowledge and passion for law, social justice, equity and community. Throughout the hour, she took us through her own professional journey and personal insights on her leadership style.
Shelley Carthen Watson began her professional career in law and later became the first ever African American woman to partner in a large law firm in the state of Minnesota. Prior to serving in her role at the YWCA, she served as the senior associate general counsel in the Office of General Counsel here at the University of Minnesota. Throughout Carthen Watson's career, she has been a dedicated supporter, advocate, and leader in the community. Not only is she well-decorated and respected for her work as a law expert, she has impacted the community greatly through her passion for creating and sustaining equal opportunities for all.
Growing up, Carthen Watson was verbally denied by many of her dream to become a lawyer because of the color of her skin. Each milestone in her law career was dedicated to those who doubted her ability to succeed in the field. During her time as a child, she found comfort and spent much of her time at the YWCA in her hometown. At that time, little did she know where her connection and passion for the YWCA would lead. She later served as a YWCA board member for six years before becoming President and CEO of the Minneapolis YWCA.
Carthen Watson emphasized the importance of adapting leadership styles. She described her style during her practice as assertive and aggressive but recognized that she had to adapt to the leadership styles needed within YWCA. As a way to adapt she developed her own self-awareness to acknowledge her growth areas and trust in her team to fill those gaps. Shelley practiced and prioritized ownership, resilience, and relationships in order to put the needs of the organization first.
Shelley Carthen Watson shared such thoughtful insights and encouraged meaningful reflection throughout the Speaker Series event. Leadership U is looking forward to hosting more Speaker Series events in 2022.
Speaker Series - Dr. Amy Beacom
Thursday, May 11
Speaker Series - Laura Halldorson
Wednesday, April 05
Speaker Series - Kamal Mohamed
Tuesday, February 14
Speaker Series: Tony Sanneh
Thursday, December 01