Wayne State University’s academic leadership podcast, EmpowerED to Lead, launched Aug. 19. The podcast features conversations with academic leaders from across campus, focusing on how they have developed their careers and how they have been able to empower themselves and others as part of that process. 

EmpowerED to Lead was developed and is hosted by Annmarie Caño, associate provost for faculty development and faculty success. Aimed at starting meaningful — and easily accessible — conversations about the definition of leadership, EmpowerED to Lead will feature current and emerging academic leaders discussing their personal leadership paths and experiences. The podcast’s first season will include eight episodes, each featuring a different guest. New episodes will be released weekly. Listeners are encouraged to nominate future guests. 

Listen here.

“I want to help cultivate a leadership mindset at Wayne State, supporting the idea that every person can be a leader — with or without a title,” said Caño. “This podcast is one of the ways we can help further conversations around leadership. There is no single type of leader, or any set path to leadership, and I hope to shine a light on the many ways people have empowered others through their leadership.” 

The first episode features Keith Whitfield, provost and senior vice president of academic affairs. Cao and Whitfield discuss a variety of topics, including the hearty response he expects while greeting campus audiences, his choice to come to Wayne State, moving up the ranks in academia, the power of professional failures and more. 

“There are so many leaders here on campus – many of them unsung heroes,” said Whitfield. “I know that if we continue cultivating conversations around leadership, we can empower and inspire even more people to achieve their aspirational goals and the goals of this university.” 

EmpowerED to Lead was created following the launch of the Academic Leadership Academy — which welcomes its first cohort this fall — to broaden conversations around leadership and help identify colleagues for networking and mentoring opportunities. The podcast’s production and development have been supported by the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts and the Office of Marketing and Communications.