Latino Business Speakers Bureau: Judy Ryan
story by: David Gomez
When a cellphone user picks up his or her phone to place a call there is an expectation that everything will go as planned. The phone will display the icons on the screen, there will be number on the screen, the phone will pick up the cell tower signal andthen the entire telecommunication network will carry the call at speeds so fast that cannot be fully comprehended. This technological miracle is possible because of the many systemsthat work together to provide a communication channel to millions of people daily. According to Judy Ryan, “systems thinkers” are rare. Only 8% of people are considered system thinkers and the reason may be simply that this new concept is ahead of the times. However, Judy is optimistic that this philosophy will become prevalentto address many of the issues plaguing our society and communities. She feels that the Hispanic community is the prime environment for system thinking to make a great cultural mark.
Judy is the CEO and founder of LifeWork Systems, an award-winning company providing consulting services to organizations. Through her work, Judy helps organizations manage their workforce with transformational methods that empowers employees and delegates responsibility. Not only is this approach results driven, but it is alsoa shift fromfocusing onfinancial bottom line indicators of success to an individualistic view that allows employees to feel empowered and accountable. This approach provides better results in the long term. Rather than replacing a “bad apple” per say(cost/benefit analysis of headcount), this approach provides the right environment for them to succeed. “The old hierarchies aren’t working anymore,” Judy says, “Inferior vs superior, adult vs child, boss over employee.They don’t produce long lasting results.” Instead, these systems can create shame, frustration and anxiety that bleed into the culture of the organization. Her work through LifeWork Systems has given those organizations an opportunity to improve their employee engagementand work-life balance. In turn employees feel valued and integrated with the company’s culture.
The great thing of system thinking and the work that Judy does, is that she has identified traits that resemble Hispanic family systems. Hispanics value hard work and have strong ties and loyalty to the family unit. The healthy respect for authority, which is customary of Hispanic tradition, works well in systems managing authority and power. Judy shares a very important thought, “Real authorityand power comes from love.” She believes that Latino leadership in organizations can foster exemplary models to larger organizations in America. She wants to see Hispanic leaders lead organizations with these philosophies. This type of leadership isn’t afraid of making other people powerful and change when needed. Judy is a trailblazer, even though some of those ideas emerged over a century ago, the times are beginning to catch up with this revolutionary methodology.