Leadership one-on-oneMelanie Stewart

MS: I value honesty, integrity and compassion, but what I find most valuable (and rare) is courage. I admire a leader who is unafraid to take a position or to open space for others to share their views, even if they are contentious. You simply cannot create an innovative environment if you don’t open up space for differing views. 

MS: I love laughing. Humour is so important in life. I like it all – sarcasm, puns and even corny jokes – but I will admit I don’t like slapstick. If someone falls on a banana peel, everyone else is laughing while I’m worrying whether they injured themselves! I firmly believe laughter is the best medicine, it has a healing magic within it.

MS: At this point in my life, I get the most inspiration from my children – for different reasons. I admire my son's leadership among his friends, his positivity and his joie de vivre. Whatever is going on in his life, he always has a smile. My daughter has incredible fortitude, and has battled serious illness during her life. She is currently completing a psychology degree and wants to give back to others with mental illness. When I see what she has battled through, it inspires me to tackle whatever might be ahead of me.

MS: I feel it is summed up in the word ‘excellence’. UBC is, bar none, the most exciting academic institution in Canada. It has a community of dynamic people, and such beautiful campuses. I see it as a jewel of potential. 

MS: To play the long game. As a leader, you need to be deliberate about what you’re doing, why you’re doing it, and to make sure your values remain intact. It can be tempting to take short cuts and follow the path of least resistance in order to avoid issues. It can be a lot more effort to do what’s right, but I believe it’s so important to follow your intuition and not compromise your core values. 

MS: Around 20 years ago I discovered yoga, and it has taken me roughly 20 years to learn that it isn’t a competition. In yoga, practice makes practice. The point is not how far you can stretch, but to breathe and be mindful. I do hot yoga now (which can be painful) but it helps me recharge, get out of my anxious mind, and be centred.

MS: My mom always said: “Life is about balance.” My sisters and I used to make fun of her when we were younger, but as I’ve gotten older I have grown to understand the wisdom of that statement. If a part of your life goes off the rails, it’s usually because something is out of balance. Maybe you’re doing too much or not eating right? Life itself is a balancing act – but it’s the key to being content.

MS: Trust. I know it takes time to build, but there is so much value in having trusting relationships with colleagues. To have colleagues who you trust, rather than compete with. I believe you can do anything when you have each other’s back.

MS: I would like to be thought of as someone who supported others to excel. A leader who never lost track of the ‘main thing’ which, at UBC, is the academic mission. Our support of UBC’s academic mission should be at the forefront of everything we do. And I hope to be remembered as someone who made people laugh.

MS: I put some thought to this and decided it would be the power of sleep. I would love to have the power to not only sleep well myself, but give the gift of sleep to others. The ability to have a restful night’s sleep would be a game-changer for so many – especially during tough times. 

MS: I worked in the public service for more than 15 years, and had the opportunity to work under a variety of leaders. I got the chance to observe different styles, and learned what to do (and what not to do). But I think the main influence of my time in public service, was developing a dedication to helping other people. Colleagues join the BC Public Service because they want to help British Columbians, to make a difference in people’s lives. I carry that same ethos in my role here at UBC. I believe my role is to serve the university, and to make a positive difference here.

MS: We are very fortunate in the External Relations portfolio, because we get to support so many parts of the university. When you consider the various units under the External Relations banner – government relations, campus and community planning, communications, ceremonies and events, community engagement – they all play a key role in supporting UBC and its academic mission. When times are busy, it’s easy to feel pulled in many directions but I am firmly of the view that you must always stay focused on the ‘main thing’ which, for UBC, is its academic mission. Our role is to continue to help build trust in academia and the importance of higher education. I am excited for our portfolio to continue to support UBC’s delivery of teaching, learning and research in the years ahead.