The Georgia Department of Natural Resources Leadership Academy

"The most dangerous leadership myth is that leaders are born-that there is a genetic factor to leadership. That's nonsense; in fact, the opposite is true. Leaders are made rather than born."—Warren Bennis

Georgia is an economically diverse, dynamic and growing state. Leadership in this environment demands that state agencies be responsive, nimble, and forward-leaning. At DNR we take these leadership responsibilities seriously. That’s why we developed the Department of Natural Resources Leadership Academy.

The academy, like a stool, has three legs. One leg is based on Warren Bennis’ contention that leaders are made, not born. Through lectures and practical exercises, students in the academy are exposed to two major schools of leadership thought: servant leadership, and adaptive leadership. Servant leadership is based on the premise that leaders exist to serve those who follow—that by developing those who are led to their fullest extent, servant leaders strengthen their entire organization. Adaptive leadership is distributed leadership, and is used when an organization faces a challenge for which no one individual has the answer.

The second leg of the leadership academy is organizational knowledge. Students learn about the state budgeting process, human resources management, the Georgia General Assembly, and much more. Partner organizations such as the Georgia Wildlife Federation, the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation, and the Georgia Friends of State Parks give presentations and spend time in conversation with the classes. Leaders from across state government and affiliated organizations participate in open discussion forums, giving students the opportunity to learn about the realities of public agency leadership.

The third leg of the leadership academy involves breaking down internal siloes. DNR’s six divisions encompass a wide range of functions that touch our citizens every day, from a clean environment, to thriving downtowns, to public safety and recreation. Clear communications and operational coordination are critical to achieving the high level of efficiency demanded by Georgia taxpayers. That’s why the DNR Leadership Academy includes exercises and activities that enhance intra-departmental cooperation.

The Department of Natural Resources Leadership Academy is growing tomorrow’s leadership today. For more information on the academy, contact Artica Gaston at artica.gaston@dnr.ga.gov.

Vision

A unified DNR with an inherent commitment to leadership development.

Mission

The Leadership Academy develops and equips students by providing tools, institutional knowledge, and relationship-building experiences that effectively advance the Department’s mission.