Jon Kroll shares with us about his time in Nicaragua.
Six years ago, after graduating with my master’s degree, I created an opportunity to volunteer in Leon, Nicaragua. Needless to say, the six-month experience was transformative. Because of the impact it has had on my life, I have gone back every year since to provide leadership development programs. For each of the trips, I’ve developed and presented leadership development programs that aim at unearthing misconceptions about leadership and providing tools to enhance leadership capabilities.
For my most recent visit, I delivered programs that focused on the Three C’s – clarity, connection, and compassion. Although I was seen as the educator, there was plenty for me to learn. The most glaring lesson for me was that with great power comes great responsibility. ‘Great power’, in this instance is synonymous with ‘great privilege’. Out of the ten days spent in Leon, Chinandega, and Jinotega, eight of which were filled with leadership development programs. I had the opportunity to work with high school students, university students, educators, business professionals, and others who are interested and invested in creating positive change.
For context, Nicaragua is the second poorest country in this hemisphere. People live in abject poverty and in a systemic culture of corruption. Needless to say, there are scarce opportunities for experiencing leadership like we have in the USA. Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts, nope. Youth sports programs, nada. Student Governance and extracurricular activities, absolutely not. In other words, practicing leadership, as youth, like we do in the United States of America is almost nonexistent in Nicaragua. It is for this reason that leadership programs like the ones I provided are so critical.
Because of the privilege I am accustomed to as an educated American, I have great responsibility. It is this privilege that encouraged me to share my knowledge. It was my responsibility to dig deep and find ways to share how cultural change (from that of corruption towards compassion) can happen through shifting our mental frames of leadership. A transformation of seeing Leadership, not as power, prestige, position, or the purse, but leadership centered on the person (who am I) and the purpose with which we lead. It is that transition that will lead to cultural transformation.
We had a chance to catch up with Jon and ask him some questions about his recent trip to Central America.
How do Nicaraguans students define leadership differently then the students you have worked with here in the US?
In Nicaragua, leadership is all about position, power, prestige, and the purse (money). Leadership is about getting what I want – it is about rising to the top and being the boss, at whatever costs. It is very self-centered. Leadership in Nicaragua is hand in hand with corruption.
Are local politician’s and other leaders attempting to establish these nonexistent programs?
At present, politicians and local leaders are not focusing on leadership development.
Do you have any future plans to continue your work down in Central America
Absolutely. I will continue to go to Nicaragua at least once a year, if not more often in the near future. My goal, is to create a master’s granting university in Nicaragua focusing on leadership and organizational development to continue this pursuit of shifting the culture of corruption to a culture of compassion. The young people in Nicaragua deeply desire this type of cultural change and I believe it can happen through a new leadership lens.
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