Author: Mark Lazzara
Not since the days of Millard Fillmore, has it been so exciting to be in Buffalo. As the region continues to move forward, Molly Anderson, is a leader of leaders as the new executive director of the Center for Leadership & Organizational Effectiveness (CLOE) at University at Buffalo, adjacent to the downtown medical corridor. Paul Tesluk, dean and professor of the School of Management, has chosen Molly because of her commitment to people and leadership growth, as well as, she was no stranger to CLOE, serving as a volunteer member on the Advisory Board.
As Molly takes the helm of CLOE, now 3 years old, she will provide direction and oversight with the goal of creating more effective leaders and organizations. Molly Anderson said, “The center is positioned to promote research and instruction in the field of leadership and organizational effectiveness.” Molly finds that good leadership is about “others”. “You can’t actually be a leader without caring about people.”
Sitting down with Molly in her fresh, impeccably clean office at 77 Goodell Street (after not spending time with her for a few years), it was instantly clear that her energy has not wavered through the decades.
She told me that she’ll be a conduit between the leaders of the “universe” of the University of Buffalo’s School of Management and the Western New York’s business community, non-for-profit sector, and academia. In all the years I’ve known Molly, she always gives a hundred percent to whatever she’s doing.
CLOE strives to create more effective leaders and organizations by advancing research and teaching in leadership and its impact on organizational effectiveness.
Molly’s humble beginnings, starting as an intern at Sgroi Financial, and in West Seneca working for Junior Achievement. Equally as an AmeriCorps VISTA alumna, her commitment to leadership and service is extraordinary.” I am honored that the University at Buffalo has named me to lead their effort,” stated Molly Anderson, “I am excited to work with our renowned faculty and the best minds in business.”
This author recognizes that Molly’s father, Bill Thornton, is one of my mentors; we worked together when he ran the Southgate Plaza, and he taught me a great deal about community service and giving back. Knowing he did the same for his daughter has given her a powerful foundation.
Molly believes leaders need to be forward thinking and strategic. She stated, leadership is about lifelong learning, servant leadership, self-awareness… leadership means motivating people and oneself to be their best and do their best. Molly’s goals for CLOE are to ramp up its mission by integrating research (including future conferences that provide leading-edge thinking on leadership), expanding programs, and partnering with organizations to build leadership capacity.
Molly comes to UB from Leadership Niagara, where she won multiple awards for programming. As president and CEO of Leadership Niagara, Molly transformed the longest running community leadership program in New York into a nationally recognized leadership development model.
Molly’s leadership development started thirty years ago with the American Management Association where she was taught by a worldwide faculty of CEOs and top leadership figures. Her list of volunteer services is global in scope – this year marks her 20th year collaborating with an economic education center in Ryazan, Russia.
If we’re going to continue to proactively shape the future of Buffalo, we must strive to groom strong leaders. In order to do that, we must identify the proven leaders of today.
Center for Leadership and Organizational Effectiveness | School of Management | University at Buffalo | UB Downtown Gateway | 77 Goodell Street – Suite 201 | Buffalo, NY 14203 | 716-645-2235 | Facebook