Bill Schwandt of the South San Joaquin Irrigation District shares his journey from a small town in North Dakota to becoming a leader in public water and power. He discusses his leadership philosophy, emphasizing the importance of learning from mistakes, strategic planning, and effective communication. Schwandt also highlights the unique advantages of his dyslexia in strategic thinking. The conversation delves into his personal interests, values, and advice for aspiring leaders, underscoring empathy, optimism, and embracing challenges as growth opportunities.

Bill's Journey to Leadership (00:00:39)
Bill shares his upbringing, influences, and educational journey that shaped his path to leadership.

Dyslexic Advantage (00:04:48)
Bill discusses his dyslexia and how it has given him a unique perspective and advantage in leadership and strategic thinking.

The Leader's Awesome Responsibility (00:08:39)
Bill describes the responsibility of a leader, emphasizing the impact on the community, staff, and the organization's mission and vision.

Early Aspirations and Influences (00:11:51)
Bill reflects on his childhood aspirations, family influences, and the impact of early experiences on his career path.

Becoming a Leader (00:13:45)
Bill recounts the pivotal moment when he realized he could be a leader and the role of education in his leadership journey.

Transition to Leadership (00:14:59)
Bill shares the challenges and lessons from his transition to his first leadership position and the evolution of his leadership style.

Leadership Philosophy (00:18:37)
Bill outlines his leadership philosophy, emphasizing efficiency, transparency, and the power of optimism in leadership.

Essential Skills for Success (00:22:07)
Bill emphasizes the importance of competency, attitude, and ambition in employees and the need for continuous learning in leadership.

Conveying Strategic Direction (00:24:57)
Bill discusses the process of developing and conveying a strategic plan within an organization, using a metaphor of "pollinating all the flowers."

Disseminating the strategic plan (00:26:11)
Bill discusses the importance of disseminating the strategic plan and the 80/20 rule for strategic decision-making.

Learning from mistakes (00:27:11)
The value of making mistakes, encouraging mistakes, and a rookie mistake Bill made in a previous job.

Approaching tough decisions (00:31:26)
Bill's process for approaching tough decisions, problem-solving, and the iterative nature of decision-making.

Personal activities for relaxation (00:35:07)
Bill's activities outside of work for relaxation, including journaling, spending quality time with his wife, and physical exercise.

Favorites and leisure activities (00:37:09)
Bill's favorite movie, book, sports teams, and foods, as well as his leisure activities and interests.

Taking time off and personal challenges (00:40:27)
Bill's perspective on taking time off, his experiences during a sabbatical, and his potential book topics.

Personal brand and advice (00:42:33)
Bill's personal brand encapsulated in a verse, and the advice he received about respecting everyone, leading by example, and embracing mistakes.

Advice for young professionals (00:45:46)
Bill's advice to young professionals, emphasizing saying yes to opportunities, hard work, and embracing their unique gifts.