HS Faculty learns about Leadership the Potter's Way: A Seminar on S-Leadership with Ms. Selene Yu
By: Rossana C. Gagaoin, ERP Head, High School Faculty
Posted: Wednesday, June 6, 2012

Last May 24, 2012, the High School Faculty of St. Scholastica’s College, Manila attended a seminar/talk entitled “S-Leadership: The Potter’s Way”. The faculty members were fortunate enough to have the 2012 PAX Awardee, Ms. Selene Yu, to be their speaker in that whole-day activity. Ms. Selene Yu is currently the Executive Director of Chevrolet Philippines – The Covenant Car Company Inc. and the Vassal-in-Charge at the Potter’s Leadership Academy. 

S-Leadership: The Potter’s Way was founded in April 2001 as God’s design for leadership. While the world teaches leadership independent of God, S-Leadership brings God rightfully back into the equation of leadership. It establishes the importance of having Jesus Christ as the center of the leader’s life. S-Leadership was born out of a real life leadership experience that is worldly in nature and that resulted initially in worldly success, followed by devastating failure.

S-Leadership was developed with after a R.I.G.H.T. relationship with God was established in the leader’s life. R.I.G.H.T. means Relationship with God that is Intimate, Growing, Honoring, and Trusting.

Ms. Yu started the talk with The Potter, God himself. Ms. Yu said that to be able to imitate God’s way or The Potter’s way of leadership, one should understand how a potter works. She then led the participants to an activity where they get to be the potter themselves. Each of the participant was given clay and was tasked to think of something that symbolizes them and then mold it. Being a potter was really an overwhelming experience for the participants as they were able to understand that God, as the creator or molder, would always give what is best for each on His own time. Just as what Ms. Yu said, “God is seldom early, never late, and always on time.”

Another important aspect about effective leadership that Ms. Selene Yu shared with the faculty is the fact that PRIDE is the enemy of servant-leadership. Ms. Yu conducted an activity with the faculty where one can see how prideful he/she is by how big his/her balloon is. This activity allows each of us to acknowledge and accept that fact and to transform ourselves from being prideful to being thankful.

Mico Donnel Siplon, a new teacher in the HS Unit, said “The seminar was effective enough in helping me realize that I belong to the conscientious type of leaders. Moreover, the seminar was able to remind me that I am a shepherd and I have my own flock; that I have the duty of leading my students to the right path.”

Educators are leaders by definition, but being an effective educator or leader can only be attained by putting God in the center of one's life. As leaders we aim to be servants (obedience to God), stewards (administration of endowment), shepherds (development of man), and seers (direction of life), they should continue to pursue transformation by renewing their minds and softening their hearts.

That in all things, God may be glorified.