WRIGHT-PATTERSON AIR FORCE BASE, Ohio --
The president of the GRAMMY Museum joined the National Air and Space Intelligence Center for a virtual fireside chat Oct. 21, 2020.
More than 20 civilian members of NASIC’s Career Broadening Program logged in to hear Michael Sticka share insights into a range of leadership topics, including managing teams and establishing values.
“As a leader, you have to define your own values,” said Sticka. “There are a few I hold dear: integrity, self-awareness, empathy and vulnerability.”
“Your values are going to permeate across the organization,” he continued. “Define that set of values that speaks to who you are and who you want to be associated with.”
Sticka, who grew up in nearby Xenia, Ohio, has been at the helm of the GRAMMY Museum for more than a year. As the president, he leads the nonprofit organization and oversees all aspects of its operations. He previously served as the museum’s executive director.
According to their website, the GRAMMY Museum is “dedicated to cultivating a greater understanding of the history and significance of music through exhibits, education, grants, preservation initiatives, and public programming.”
During the chat, Sticka talked about building the right team to accomplish your mission and described the importance of culture.
“Start with retention before you worry about recruitment,” he said. “Start with the end in mind. What kind of culture do we want to create that’s going to drive people from a diverse background to come and work here?”
Professional development opportunities like Sticka’s fireside chat are an integral part of NASIC’s Career Broadening Program. The two-year program is nested under the Center’s Civilian Career Development Program and is designed to develop and enhance the skills and knowledge of GG-12s and GG-13s for leadership and managerial roles at NASIC.
“The speaker series is one of the reasons I applied to join the program,” said Amber Lynn, CBP participant. “We get to hear about valuable approaches to leadership, and the lessons learned from Michael’s shared experiences were no exception.”
In a normal year, CBP members are also enrolled in formal training courses, travel to customer and partner sites, visit local and national corporate locations, and engage directly with distinguished visitors and NASIC senior leaders.
The COVID-19 response limited some of the typical program elements, but virtual events like this one have helped keep the members engaged and challenged.
“It may require thinking outside the box, but that’s what our members do best,” said Ethan Grimsley, the program’s chair.