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Alumni Spotlight: James Nixon
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This month’s Alumni Spotlight features James Nixon, who shares his reflections on the fundamental leadership skills he gained through participating in 21st Century Leaders’ programs in the 1990’s. Now, nearly 20 years later, James is the VP of Administrative & Clinical Services at Tift Regional Health System. He is a graduate of Tift County High School and Mercer University.
At the 10th Annual Georgia Youth Leadership Awards, James delivered his inspirational message about the impact 21CL has had on his personal and professional development, the value of his internships through 21CL, and excitement for the future of leadership.
How did participating in 21st Century Leaders (21CL) change you and/or lead you to where you are now?
21CL was the foundation to my formal business and leadership training. These skills followed me through my internships, college work and even now. I still use principles learned from team building modules from our courses. Likewise, I continue to keep up with life-long friends who I made through 21CL.
What was a memorable or “aha” moment in 21CL (Particular program, meeting a professional, etc?)?
The biggest “aha” moment in connecting the dots with 21CL is how I forged true friends, some of which, I STILL keep in touch with personally and professionally. The degrees of separation in the business world and throughout the state are very small. The world of business and industry intersect on may levels.
Which programs did you participate in, and when?
The first program I attended was in Tifton at Abraham Baldwin Agricultural College (ABAC). The group of us who met at our first camp planned our remaining summers together each year afterward. Since then, 21CL has continued to evolve into other specialized programs for youth year-round.
How did 21CL prepare you for your next steps? Going into college and taking on leadership roles, heading into a new era of professionalism, etc. what tools/ perspectives have helped you along the way?
After participating in the program, I later interned with 21CL in the summers during college and served as the assistant director of camps during that time as well. 21CL has had an unquantifiable impact on my professional life. During my internship, I learned how to present to corporate boards, learned about and worked on fund development and it allowed me to ‘cut my teeth’ as a formal leader and as a mentor. Prior to my internship with 21CL, my exposure from the program gave me the opportunity to intern with Georgia Power. My training and relationship from 21CL poised me to intern in a pilot program at the local office.
What is something you recently learned about leadership? 
Of course, we never stop learning. I was in a training last month; one workshop focused on leadership in our era of dependence on electronic communication as a default method. The message was: an email has never built a relationship but has destroyed them countless times. Never use email as a substitute for communication that is better to be held face-to-face or by phone.
Do you have a reflection or anecdote about a time you put a skill or piece of information you learned through 21st Century Leaders to work as a professional?
Yes, I used this personally and professionally… from the FISH program, I learned, “even if we disagree, don’t make me wrong.” This means that there are always different perspectives and often not just one right answer or means to get something accomplished.
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Today’s action challenge in the #21Days of Leadership social media campaign is to highlight a past leader who has made a difference in your life and inspired you to become a leader.