Embracing the Spirit of Servant Leadership: Insights from GKBA Luncheon

Embracing the Spirit of Servant Leadership: Insights from GKBA Luncheon

The Greater Kendall Business Association (GKBA) recently reconvened at Killian Palms Golf Course, marking a nostalgic return to its luncheon tradition after a hiatus since 2020. The meeting was led by Wilson Alvarez, the event saw 72 attendees, including legacy members like Javier Saborio of Power Financial Credit Union, Jan Hurley of Hurley Health Resources, and Robert Antoncich of Living Air, among others.

Amidst the camaraderie, Joy Galliford set a reverent tone with a heartfelt invocation, setting the stage for the keynote address by Anthony Cruz, President of Miami Dade Community College Kendall Campus. Cruz’s speech, titled “The Power of Servant Leadership,” echoed Robert Greenleaf’s sentiment: “Good leaders must first become good servants.”

Cruz outlined key characteristics of servant leadership, emphasizing traits like empathy, active listening, awareness, persuasion, and a commitment to the growth of individuals and the community. He underscored the significance of servant leadership in fostering better teamwork, strategic thinking, innovation, increased productivity, and grooming future leaders while enhancing both employee retention and customer satisfaction.

However, Cruz also highlighted potential challenges, noting that servant leadership might prolong decision-making processes, necessitate organizational culture shifts, and occasionally diminish the leader’s perceived authority.

Karen Vassell of Baptist Health, the event’s sponsor, shed light on the importance of health screenings, specifically addressing calcium deposits’ role in cardiovascular health. Her insights complemented Cruz’s discourse, illustrating how servant leadership extends beyond the boardroom into community welfare.

The luncheon not only served as a platform for networking and professional development but also reignited the GKBA’s commitment to its members’ holistic growth and the broader Kendall community’s welfare.

As attendees savored the reunion and absorbed Cruz’s wisdom, the palpable energy in the air signaled a reinvigorated spirit of collaboration and service. With 72 business professionals in attendance, the GKBA’s return to Killian Greens marked not just a nostalgic reunion, but a reaffirmation of its mission to cultivate servant leaders and foster a thriving business ecosystem in West Kendall.