Celebrated Changemaker
Overwhelmed by Daily Demands? Discover Veronica's Powerful Leadership Strategy
Ever feel like juggling daily tasks while trying to keep sight of your long-term goals is overwhelming? What if you could handle your day-to-day responsibilities while still paving the way for a legacy of lasting change? Veronica Herrero, Executive Vice Chancellor at the City Colleges of Chicago, has not only achieved this balance but has set a powerful example for leaders everywhere.
This month, we celebrate Veronica Herrero’s leadership as Executive Vice Chancellor - Chief Institutional Advancement Officer and Chief of Staff at the City Colleges of Chicago.
In this article, you’ll discover how Veronica’s exceptional focus on prioritizing key tasks and stepping back from over-commitment has transformed her leadership and empowered her team. Her strategies are a testament to what’s possible when you lead with purpose and vision.
Feeling overwhelmed by daily demands while struggling to keep your long-term goals on track? Take inspiration from Veronica’s outstanding leadership journey. She’s shown that it’s possible to break free from the constant juggling act and align your daily efforts with your larger mission. Don’t miss out on these practical strategies that could redefine your approach to leadership.
Step 1: Creating Systemic Change
Veronica is pivotal at the City Colleges of Chicago, a system of community colleges with seven independently accredited colleges and five satellite campuses. As Executive Vice Chancellor, she leads all institutional advancement efforts, including strategy, fundraising, communications, and partnerships, to drive the institution's goals of excellence, equity, and socioeconomic mobility.
What sets Veronica apart is her commitment to systemic change. She believes that achieving equity requires more than just supportive programs; it demands transforming the very fabric of the system. Veronica leverages her position to shape policies and practices that provide individuals across the city access to economic mobility.
"In my mind, to achieve equity across a big city like ours, you need to change the system," Veronica explains. "It's an honor and privilege to be in a position where I can help shape and change the system to give more individuals access to economic mobility."
Step 2: Responding to Adversity
Veronica's leadership journey is characterized by her ability to respond to adversity and turn challenges into opportunities. She draws on her diverse experience in public schools, nonprofit, and private sectors to inform her approach. At the City Colleges, she is dedicated to creating infrastructures that support systemic change and economic mobility.
"I love to see how you can create infrastructures and have people across the district plugin," Veronica says. "You start seeing this incredible system's effect of culture, tools, and data. Seeing those results is very fulfilling for me."
Veronica acknowledges that working in a mission-driven environment comes with unique challenges. Balancing staff passion with practical organizational management is crucial. She leads honestly, acknowledging problems openly and providing solutions to overcome them. This approach fosters a resilient team capable of responding positively to adversity.
Step 3: Recognize and Celebrate Differences
Leadership is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. Veronica's strength lies in her commitment to recognizing and celebrating her team members' unique skills and perspectives. She believes in personalized management, treating everyone fairly while catering to their individual needs.
"Everyone you work with is different. No two human beings need the same things to thrive at work and as a teammate," Veronica explains. "I strive to be a consistent leader while also having the flexibility to meet people where they are."
Veronica employs two key strategies to achieve this:
Stretch your team — but not too far: Constantly challenge your team with new responsibilities to help them grow without overwhelming them.
Learn what drives your people: Take the time to understand your team members' individual motivations and align their work with the larger mission.
"I want to give my team work that aligns with why they came to work with us," Veronica says. "By constantly connecting daily tasks to a larger vision, I enable them to find meaning in everything they do."
Step 4: Leading So You’re Not Needed
Ultimately, effective leadership involves knowing when to step back. Veronica embraces humility and believes that powerful leadership comes from empowering others to succeed independently. Her goal is to lead so effectively that she becomes unnecessary to the team's success.
"The best sign of healthy leadership is when your team can run with your guidance and vision and they are able to go through their own creative process to deliver with excellence without additional help from you. Growing as a leader means learning to be comfortable with the things out of my control and finding opportunities within challenges."
Veronica's leadership is defined by three key tenets:
Stepping Back When Needed: Remove yourself from spaces where your staff can handle tasks independently.
Creating Learning Opportunities: Position your team to learn from trial and error, promoting growth through experience.
Turning Challenges Into Opportunities: Encourage your team to find opportunities within challenges.
These principles form the foundation of Veronica's capacity-building approach. By stepping back, offering learning opportunities, and supporting her team, Veronica fosters leadership qualities throughout the City Colleges of Chicago. Her leadership proves that transformational change is possible by trusting, involving, and supporting others.
Conclusion
Veronica is an inspiration, and we are fortunate to support her at It's the Impact. Her leadership strategy demonstrates that balancing short-term tasks with long-term legacy is achievable with purpose, vision, and the right strategies.
Find out how you can be a stronger leader by scheduling a Free Discovery Call.