LEAD Live event sparks real talk on leadership, learning, collaboration

What happens when students get the mic and a top university leader leans in to listen? You get LEAD Live—an evening of open dialogue, fresh insight, and real-world learning that defines Walter Center for Strategic Leadership experiences.

During the spring semester, the Walter Center for Strategic Leadership in the College of Business hosted a standout session of its LEAD Live series featuring Executive Vice President and Provost Donald Leo. New to the University this academic year, Leo brought energy, candor and vision to a room full of driven students and future leaders.

Co-hosted by Emerging Leaders President Lily Branch and Wandell Fellows President Ryan Koenig, the night was anything but a typical Q&A.

“This isn’t about speeches,” said Jen Traxler, director of the Walter Center, kicking off the evening. “It’s about connection.” She highlighted the center's powerhouse programs—from Emerging Leaders and Wandell Fellows to Leadership Launchpad and graduate certificates in human resources management and strategic leadership—all designed to equip students for impact.

That impact was front and center as students shared how these programs have shaped their paths.

When Provost Leo took the stage, he didn’t just talk about policy or strategy—he spoke about people. He said collaboration is at the heart of how things get done.

“The real strength of a university is the people who believe in its mission,” he said. “When the president, deans and faculty align around student success, big things happen.”

The conversation touched on everything from leadership under pressure to the rapid rise of artificial intelligence. Leo didn’t dodge the tough stuff; instead, he leaned in.

“AI isn’t going anywhere,” he said. “You’ll be expected to use it—professionally, ethically, effectively. And here at OHIO, we’re committed to helping you do that.”

That mindset—blending tech fluency with values—is already reshaping the College of Business curriculum.

Branch and Koenig kept the conversation honest, even playful at times. One highlight? A hypothetical question: Would Leo rather travel back in time to give his younger self advice or jump ahead to see his leadership’s long-term impact?

He laughed. “I’d go forward. Not for the legacy—to see what’s next. And maybe because it means I’m closer to retirement,” he joked, drawing laughs from the crowd.

But the night wasn’t all jokes. When students asked about his daily routine, purpose, and engagement with the Athens community, Leo answered with transparency—and a steady reminder that leadership starts with listening, learning, and showing up.

After the panel, students stuck around, asking more questions, making connections, and reflecting on what it means to lead—right now and in the future.

Koenig summed it up best: “It’s one thing to learn leadership in class. It’s another to practice it in moments like this. Ten out of ten experience.”

The LEAD Live series continues to do what great education should do: breaking down walls between students and decision-makers, turning ideas into action, and making room for the kind of conversations that move people forward.