Today we’d like to introduce you to Leon Prieto.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Leon. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I moved to the United States from Trinidad and Tobago about 20 years ago for undergrad (Claflin University) with the intention of obtaining a degree and returning home, however, along the way I fell in love with academia and decided to pursue an MBA from Georgia Southern University, and eventually a Ph.D. in Human Resource and Leadership Development from Louisiana State University (Geaux Tigers!). This sounds so easy and straightforward when I say it. However, growing up I did not always believe in myself, and thankfully, my family, especially my uncle Glen and my aunt Sharon, who both lived in the United States, encouraged me to pursue higher education in the U.S. They saw something in me that I did not see in myself, and thankfully, I took their advice, and I am currently enjoying my career as an Associate Professor of Management at Clayton State University.
Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
My academic journey started off smoothly at my undergraduate institution, Claflin University (oldest HBCU in South Carolina), and I absolutely loved my experiences there. However, things got a bit bumpy when I moved to Statesboro, Georgia to obtain my MBA at Georgia Southern University. It was a bit of a culture shock leaving an HBCU. However, I managed to overcome the obstacles that I faced. By the time I moved to Baton Rouge to attend LSU to pursue my PhD, I felt that I was ready to take on any challenge because I developed the resilience and grit that was needed to tackle anything.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I work for Clayton State University, a predominantly black institution in Morrow, Georgia, which is 15 minutes south of Atlanta. I have the privilege of serving as an Associate Professor of Management, and I teach a variety of courses such as Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Principles of Management, Global Human Resources, and Human Resource Consulting. Teaching is my passion, and I believe in preparing my students for the world of work, and how to use their education to drive positive social change. I also enjoy teaching internationally, and I have had the privilege of delivering lectures, presentations, and workshops on topics related to Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Leadership, and Human Resources in Trinidad and Tobago, Belize, the Dominican Republic, Canada, Spain, Germany, and the United Kingdom. I also serve as an Associate Research Fellow at Cambridge Judge Business School (United Kingdom). When it comes to research, I am focused on areas such as Management History, Social Issues in Management, Social Innovation & Entrepreneurship, and International Human Resource Development. One of the goals of my research is to educate others about the often forgotten historical contributions made by women and people of African descent to the fields of Management and Social Innovation/Entrepreneurship. I recently co-authored a book with Dr. Simone Phipps entitled African American Management History: Insights on Gaining a Cooperative Advantage. It is receiving recognition nationally and internationally, and I am proud that it received attention from Harvard University and Cambridge Judge Business School. The goal of the book is to educate others about the historical contributions made by African American business pioneers.
Is there a characteristic or quality that you feel is essential to success?
Grit is an essential characteristic that I possess because I believe in pushing myself to accomplish my goals. It is important always to write down your goals and create an action plan actually to accomplish them. That simple activity encourages me to strive for excellence in all that I do. Another important quality is humility. We live in a world that does not seem to really value this trait. However, I believe that “when you lose say nothing, when you win say less. Let your work speak for itself.”
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Clayton State University
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