Lisa Davis shares insights on leadership and growth in interview with American Association of Law Libraries

Lisa Davis, Assistant Dean for Legal Information Services & Director of FIU Law Library shared her insightful perspective on leadership in an interview with American Association of Law Libraries. To Lisa, leadership is a privilege earned through the trust and respect of those she leads. She takes on various roles, ensuring a welcoming and need-responsive law library as a director, innovating digital resources as an assistant dean, and guiding fellow law librarians as the chair of their faculty group. Her leadership style focuses on transparent strategic planning, owning her mistakes, and fostering shared decision-making. She emphasizes the importance of creating a collaborative environment that supports the passions and professional growth of her team.

One of the pivotal moments in Lisa’s leadership journey was attending the AALL Annual Meeting in Philadelphia, where she participated in a program titled “Library Career Planning: Is Management Right for Everyone?” This experience helped her transition from a managerial mindset to an administrative one centered on leadership. Lisa values AALL’s Communities and professional development content as valuable resources to address the complexities of library direction from multiple perspectives and staying updated on the ever-evolving changes in their profession. Lisa’s advice to aspiring leaders is to know yourself, recognize your strengths, and take courage in the recognition that leadership roles are typically chosen and conferred based on your abilities and competence. She encourages new leaders to embrace their roles with confidence and ownership, even in the face of challenges, adversaries, and successes.

Read the full interview here.