Dr. Vicki Martin
President, Milwaukee Area Technical College
700 W. State St., Milwaukee
Industry: Higher education
Employees: 1,690
www.matc.edu
Dr. Vicki Martin is president of Milwaukee Area Technical College. She says good leaders step up and help, no matter how small the impact.
“Clearly connecting the daily work of employees to your mission and vision can help motivate employees to do their best work. That sounds simple, but with all the time leaders spend putting out day-to-day fires, creating impactful goals that serve as a roadmap for employees to make a difference is often harder than it sounds. In an ever-changing world, leaders may not know what the right path is or how to get there.
“At MATC, our mission is to offer exceptional educational and training opportunities and services to our community, particularly in the manufacturing, construction, IT and health care sectors. What this boils down to for our faculty and staff is that their everyday work is helping to close the region’s skills gap and provide a path out of poverty for so many in our community.
“One tangible example of our work connecting employees to our mission is the MATC Promise, a first-of-its-kind program in Wisconsin where the MATC Foundation pays tuition and fees for eligible students, and faculty and staff serve as mentors to students pursuing their college dream. The MATC Promise is not a one-size-fits-all solution and it certainly won’t solve all of the deep-rooted issues Milwaukee faces, but it is a step in the right direction. Leaders who act boldly and step up to lead important initiatives will make a difference for the community they serve. Good leaders don’t sit on the sidelines; they step up and help, no matter how small the impact. If not you and your organization, then who?”
