Leader Identity Narrative

"Every journey has its challenges and triumphs, but the lessons learned along the

way shape who we become."

Life is an intricate tapestry woven with moments of triumph, despair, and

transformation. As a Cell Operation System Team Lead at Medtronic, my leadership journey

is no exception. These narrative chronicles the key chapters of my journey, highlighting the

experiences that have shaped my identity as a leader. Through resilience, adaptability, and the

transformative power of mentorship and collaboration, I have navigated the winding path of

leadership, always striving to make a positive impact.

As a child, participating in a school play was my first encounter with leadership.

Taking on a role in the play helped me build self-confidence and understand the importance

of working with others to achieve a common goal. This early experience laid the foundation

for my future leadership journey. At the age of 15, I led a community service project to clean

up a local park. This experience fostered a sense of empathy and responsibility, highlighting

the impact of leadership beyond personal gains. It taught me the value of giving back to the

community and leading by example.

My first significant turning point was becoming a monitor in high school. As a

monitor, I was responsible for leading by example and providing guidance to younger

students. This role helped me develop a sense of mentorship and responsibility, emphasizing

the importance of fostering a supportive environment (Women in the Workplace, 2013)

Moving to the United States at 19 was a major turning point. Navigating a new

country and educational system taught me adaptability and resilience. This experience

broadened my perspective and strengthened my leadership skills as I faced cultural

differences and language barriers. Leading a university club in my early 20s allowed me to
take initiative, plan events, and manage a diverse group of peers. This pivotal moment in my

leadership journey helped me develop my strategic planning and leadership skills,

emphasizing the importance of initiative-taking.

An internship at a multinational corporation provided insights into corporate culture

and leadership. Working with seasoned professionals prepared me for future roles in a

professional setting, highlighting the importance of adaptability, strategic thinking, and

professional development.

Currently pursuing my OGL major at ASU, I am driven by the anticipation of

graduation. Late nights spent studying and collaborating with peers have reinforced my

commitment to academic excellence. This journey has been transformative, solidifying my

academic and leadership capabilities. -Leading a cross-functional team at Medtronic requires

integrating diverse perspectives and fostering innovation. This role has driven me to achieve

successful outcomes by leveraging the strengths of my team and encouraging creative

problem-solving.

One of the most memorable moments in my leadership journey was the successful

launch of a new Cell Operation System at Medtronic. The anticipation was high as we

prepared for the launch. Months of hard work, late nights, and countless meetings culminated

in a flawless execution. Watching my team celebrate the success and receiving positive

feedback from various departments was exhilarating. This moment underscored the power of

teamwork, dedication, and strategic leadership (Harrington & Hall, 2007).

Conversely, one of the lowest points was managing a major production line failure.

The incident occurred at a critical time, threatening our operations and morale. I felt

overwhelmed and questioned my abilities. However, this challenge tested my resilience and
adaptability, teaching me the importance of staying calm under pressure and leading by

example (Gabarro & Kotter, 2005).

Successfully implementing a significant process improvement demonstrated my

ability to analyze complex systems and drive efficiency. This achievement highlighted the

importance of analytical thinking and process-oriented leadership. Leading a team in a highly

technical and challenging environment as a Cell Operation System Team Lead at Medtronic

combines all my previous experiences and leadership styles. This role focuses on achieving

strategic goals and fostering a collaborative team environment, marking a significant change

in my leadership journey.

Reflecting on my leadership journey, certain themes stand out—resilience,

adaptability, and the transformative power of mentorship and collaboration. These

experiences have shaped me into a leader who is not only focused on achieving success but

also on guiding, supporting, and inspiring others. The overall moral of my story is that

leadership is a continuous journey of growth, adaptation, and making a positive impact on

those around us.

 (Figured 1, Turning Point Interview Graph)

Childhood

1. Event: Participating in a School Play (30%)

• Age: Around 10 years old (Primary School)

• Leadership Style: Confidence-building and teamwork.

• Experience: This experience helped me build self-confidence and understand

the importance of working with others to achieve a common goal. My first taste of leadership

came as a child when I participated in a school play. This experience helped build my self-

confidence and taught me the importance of working with others to achieve a common goal.

Adolescence

2. Event: Organizing a Community Service Project (50%)

• Age: Around 15 years old (Middle School)

 • Leadership Style: Community leadership and empathy.

• Experience: Leading a community service project at the age of 15 fostered a

sense of empathy and responsibility, highlighting the impact of leadership beyond personal

gains.

3. Event: Becoming a Monitor in High School (60%)

• Age: Around 17 years old (High School)

• Leadership Style: Mentorship and guiding peers. Fostering a supportive

environment

• Experience: As a high school monitor, I developed a sense of mentorship and

responsibility, learning to lead by example and provide guidance to younger students.

Emerging Adulthood

4. Event: Moving to the United States for Further Education (90%)

• Age: 19 years old

• Leadership Style: Adaptive and resilient. Navigating cultural changes, new

environments.

• Experience: This major turning point taught me adaptability and resilience as I

navigated a new country and educational system. It was a significant change that broadened

my perspective and strengthened my leadership skills.

5. Event: Leading a University Club (30%)

• Age: Early 20 years old

• Leadership Style: Initiative-taking and strategic planning.

 • Experience: Leading a university club allowed me to take initiative, plan

events, and manage a diverse group of peers. It was a pivotal moment in developing my

strategic planning and leadership skills.

6. Event: Interning at a Multinational Corporation (40%)

• Age: Mid- 20s

• Leadership Style: Professional development and corporate leadership.

• Experience: This internship provided insights into corporate culture and

leadership, preparing me for future roles in a professional setting.

Adulthood

7. Event: Completing a Major Certification or Degree (80%)

• Age: Mid-20s

• Leadership Style: Academic excellence and perseverance.

• Experience: Working diligently on my OGL major at ASU, I embraced late

nights and collaborative projects. The anticipation of graduation drives my dedication,

reinforcing my commitment to academic excellence.

8. Event: First Major Presentation to Executives (30%)

• Age: Mid-20s

• Leadership Style: Public speaking and executive presence.

• Experience: Presenting to executives sharpened my communication skills and

taught me how to convey complex ideas clearly and confidently.

Present
 9. Event: Leading a Cross-Functional Team at Medtronic (10%)

• Age: 26 years old

• Leadership Style: Integrative and innovative leadership.

• Experience: Leading a cross-functional team requires integrating diverse

perspectives and fostering innovation, driving the team toward successful outcomes.

10. Event: Implementing a Major Process Improvement (40%)

• Age:27 years old

• Leadership Style: Analytical and process-oriented leadership.

• Experience: Successfully implementing a significant process improvement

demonstrated my ability to analyze complex systems and drive efficiency.

11. Event: Becoming a Cell Operation System Team Lead at Medtronic (100%)

• Age: Present

• Leadership Style: Transformational and strategic. Leading teams to achieve

operational excellence.

• Experience: Leading a team in a highly technical and challenging environment

combines all my previous experiences and leadership styles, focusing on achieving strategic

goals and fostering a collaborative team environment.

12. Event: Completing a Major Certification or Degree (90%)

• Age: Present

• Leadership Style: Academic excellence and perseverance.

 • Experience: Continue to study major OGL at ASU. Achieving a significant

academic milestone demonstrated my dedication and ability to overcome challenges,

solidifying my leadership capabilities.

Turning Points Graph Narrative

High Points

Event: Successful System Launch at Medtronic (Age: Present)

• Scene: The day I successfully launched a new Cell Operation System at

Medtronic. The entire team gathered in the control room; eyes glued to the monitors as we

initiated the system. After months of meticulous planning and countless hours of hard work,

seeing the system run flawlessly was a moment of immense pride and joy. The atmosphere

was electric, with team members high-fiving and celebrating success. This experience

underscored the power of teamwork, dedication, and strategic leadership.

• Leadership Style: Transformational and strategic leadership.

Event: Organizing a Community Service Project (Age: 15, Middle School)

• Scene: Led a community service project that cleaned up a local park.

Coordinating with classmates, local authorities, and community members to ensure the

project ran smoothly. The sense of accomplishment and pride when seeing the park restored

was incredible. It highlighted the impact of leadership beyond personal gains and fostered a

sense of community and responsibility.

• Leadership Style: Community leadership and empathy.

Event: Completing a Major Certification or Degree (Age: Present)

 • Scene: Working diligently on my OGL major at ASU. Late nights spent

studying, collaborating with peers on projects, and applying classroom knowledge to real-

world situations. The anticipation of graduation drives my dedication and perseverance. I

envision the moment of receiving my diploma, walking across the stage, shaking hands with

the faculty, and seeing the proud faces of my family in the audience. While I haven't

graduated yet, the journey itself has been transformative, solidifying my academic and

leadership capabilities.

• Leadership Style: Academic excellence and perseverance.

Low Point

Event: Production Line Failure at Medtronic (Age: Present)

• Scene: The stress and pressure of managing a major production line failure.

The alarms sounded, and I had to quickly assemble the team to diagnose and fix the issue.

The initial panic and uncertainty were overwhelming. I felt the weight of responsibility and

questioned my abilities as a leader. However, this challenging experience taught me the

importance of resilience, staying calm under pressure, and the critical role of effective

communication.

• Leadership Style: Situational leadership.

Event: Moving to the United States for Further Education (Age: 19)

• Scene: Arriving in the US, facing cultural differences, language barriers, and

the challenges of adapting to a new educational system. Feeling isolated and overwhelmed

yet determined to succeed. This period tested my adaptability and resilience, ultimately

strengthening my leadership skills and broadening my perspective.

• Leadership Style: Adaptive and resilient leadership.

 Turning Points

Event: Becoming a Monitor in High School (Age: 17)

• Scene: Being selected as a monitor in high school, a role that required leading

by example and providing guidance to younger students. This experience helped me develop

a sense of mentorship and responsibility. I learned to foster a supportive environment and

inspire others through my actions.

• Leadership Style: Mentorship and guiding peers.

Event: Leading a University Club (Age: Early 20s)

• Scene: Taking the initiative to lead a university club, planning events, and

managing a diverse group of peers. This experience was a turning point in developing my

strategic planning and leadership skills. It allowed me to navigate the complexities of

leadership and understand the importance of initiative-taking.

• Leadership Style: Initiative-taking and strategic planning.

Conclusion

Reflecting on my leadership journey, certain themes stand out resilience, adaptability,

and the transformative power of mentorship and collaboration. These experiences have

shaped me into a leader who is not only focused on achieving success but also on guiding,

supporting, and inspiring others. The overall moral of my story is that leadership is a

continuous journey of growth, adaptation, and making a positive impact on those around us.
 References

Gabarro, J. J., & Kotter, J. P. (2005, January). Managing your boss. Harvard Business

Review, 83(1), 92–101.

Harrington, B., & Hall, D. T. (2007). Career management and work-life integration:

Using self-assessment to navigate contemporary careers. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publicati

ons, Inc.

Women in the Workplace: A Research Roundup. (2013). Harvard Business Review.