Center for Leadership
Studies

Joyce Dowdall believes that it is possible to shape the environments in which we work into places where people are supported, nurtured, and inspired to contribute. The way to create these spaces, she says, is through leadership.

“MAOL candidates do a lot of learning surrounding how to build environments that set themselves, their colleagues, and their entire organizations up to succeed. I teach the application of these frameworks and distinctions, planning with candidates how to integrate them into their everyday practical work experience.”

Beginning her career with the Canadian telecommunications industry, Dowdall has worked in every facet of organizations from operations to sales and marketing. Her expertise is based in real-world work experiences focused on organizational and individual development. In addition to leading culture creation and organizational design initiatives, Joyce has been responsible for creating a virtual corporate university supporting an alliance of more than 15,000 employees and used by nine of the operating Canadian telephone companies.

It was during the early stages of this initiative that Joyce had her first encounter with MAOL methodology through the Generative Leadership Group. Experiencing the value of what she learned in applying the principles to her own project, Dowdall joined GLG and has helped design the MAOL program, support the faculty, and teach candidates ever since. The result has been a program in whose outcomes and value she deeply believes.

“There are many MBA programs that do a brilliant job of educating people about leadership,” Dowdall avers. “But what I’ve noticed is that who the candidates hold themselves to be as leaders doesn’t alter significantly. I find the opposite is true of people that go through MAOL; their experience not only changes their perception of who they are as a leader and what is possible, but it alters who they are as human beings and what’s available to them as a result of that.”

Dowdall’s hands-on experience gives her a real-world view of the challenges that candidates face in the application of MAOL’s breakthrough inspiring methodology. Dowdall is a skilled guide when it comes to integrating sound business practices with new ways to create results and she continues to be thrilled and inspired by watching the personal and professional shifts in each cohort.

“You’ll walk away from this program having a graduate degree, but that’s only one facet,” Dowdall explains. “What you truly walk away with is the capacity to create and implement new futures no matter where you go.”

Dowdall is managing partner for Generative Leadership Group and has been instrumental to the MAOL program for nearly a decade.