Learning to lead from the top

Philadelphia District Attorney Lynne Abraham wants Penn students to follow in her footsteps. In a lecture before more than 50 Wharton juniors and seniors held on Thursday, Abraham addressed issues facing future leaders. The guest lecturer, brought to campus by the Management 248 class, "Executive Leadership," was the first of several speakers invited by Edward Shils, Entrepreneurial Management professor emeritus. In Steinberg-Dietrich Hall, Abraham tried to relate leadership in the public and private sector. She said that good leadership means that "you can't allow people to have expectations beyond what you can deliver," citing Amazon.com as an example of unrealistic expectations. Abraham kept the Wharton audience in mind during her lecture, making drawing several comparisons to the stock market and dot-com industry. Several times, Abraham stressed the similarity between the skills required of entrepreneurs and public servants. She explained that she has to keep her constituents satisfied the same way that a private business must satisfy its customer base. Abraham also works with community groups to cultivate leaders. She has founded a school -- funded by donations from private corporations and foundations -- that she calls "I Lead." Her students, many of whom are not even high school graduates, attend a two-year program that teaches them how to become leaders in their communities. And on Thursday, Wharton students got a taste of Abraham's teaching style. "Leadership means that you have to have the courage to stand alone," Abraham advised. Bringing speakers like Abraham to Penn, Shils said he chooses men and women who have overcome adversity. Shils added that he wants to inspire students -- as well as give them the background knowledge and skills -- to become true leaders. By all accounts, Shils' course has been successful in this goal. Andy Pogach, a Wharton senior, took the course after hearing rave reviews from friends. Pogach said he looks forward to "different speakers from many sectors giving a good perspective on leadership." And Abraham's talk on Thursday did not disappoint. Wharton junior Nushin Alloo agreed, describing Abraham's talk as "extremely inspirational."