Lead Like a Mayor
In 2011, I was one of six International Students selected to attend the Israel National Defense College—an executive-level professional development course intended to prepare senior military officers and government officials to lead at the national and international level. Our curriculum included meetings with various high-level officials to hear their perspectives on national security challenges and leadership. One of the most interesting encounters was with Nir Barkat, the Mayor of Jerusalem. Consider the timing of my visit…just months into the Arab Spring that threatened stability in Egypt to Israel’s south; early days of the Syria Civil War that challenged Israel’s security in the Golan Heights; and well into Iran’s nuclear program development that—if completed—would pose an existential threat to Israel. There was even talk of a possible third Intifada that would most certainly impact safety and security in Mayor Barkat’s city. And despi...