11 Skills and Attributes

The Illinois Leadership Center describes 11 skills and attributes that characterize a well-balanced leader. Throughout my career at Illinois, I realize and reflect on the development of these skills in my everyday travails to train myself as balanced leader.

Self-Awareness

  • Leadership Objective: Learn by teaching others
  • Evidence: Eta Kappa Nu ECE 440 Review Sessions Coordinator (2009-2010)

Self-Management

  • Leadership Objective: Network and explore electronics field
  • Evidence: Device Research Conference (2009)

Relationship Building

  • Leadership Objective: Communicate with professors and graduate students
  • Evidence: PopLab Researcher (2007-2011)

Communication Skills

  • Leadership Objective: Work with distant colleagues on project
  • Evidence: Rivers of the World Foundation Environmental Research Workshops (2007, 2010)
  • Evidence: State Farm Insurance Systems Research Intern (2009)

Ethical Practices

  • Leadership Objective: Maintain confidentiality and assert oneself
  • Evidence: Protecting organizational interests (2009)

Team Development

  • Leadership Objective: Divide up responsibilities and collaborate
  • Evidence: Engineers without Borders Great Lakes Conference (2008)

Leading Change

  • Leadership Objective: Guide ideas into fruition
  • Evidence: Promoting Undergraduate Research in Engineering Committee Coordinator (2009)

Project and Program Effectiveness

  • Leadership Objective: Devise a vision, document and build it, present it, and publish it
  • Evidence: Present Remote Lab Web Services at ASEE Conference (2009-2010)

Systems Thinking

  • Leadership Objective: Work with people in different career phases
  • Evidence: Editor-in-Chief of Dr. Everitt's Neighborhood (2010)

Community Building

  • Leadership Objective: Acquaint newcomers to a community
  • Evidence: Allen Hall Orientation Committee (2009)

Sustaining Leadership

  • Leadership Objective: Ensure continuity of responsibilities
  • Evidence: Engineers without Borders Webmaster position transition (2009)