Program on Law and Leadership

Student Profiles

Beth Johnson '10

Beth Johnson '10, shares a common background with Dennis Perkins, author of Leading at the Edge, and the featured speaker for the 2010 academic year. This shared experience as U.S. Naval Academy graduates and Marine Corps officers made Ms. Johnson especially excited to hear more about the author's leadership theories and philosophies.

Mr. Perkins's interactive discussion brought Ernest Shackleton's Antarctic saga to life, identifying and explaining Shackleton's leadership decisions," Beth commented. "His application of Shackleton's leadership qualities to modern life resonated with me and motivated me to think critically about how I can take the lessons of my own experiences 'at the edge' and apply them to my future law career."

As a Marine, Beth shared that she spent a lot of time focusing on leadership of subordinates, and this presentation inspired a connection between subordinate and peer leadership.

"Mr. Perkins applied the lessons of Shackleton to peer leadership, explaining how when a leader is a positive, dedicated example, one can challenge those around him or her to be their best," Beth explained. "I am motivated to begin my career knowing that I can apply the lessons from Shackleton's leadership 'at the edge' to challenge myself and those around me to be our best."

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