A decade ago, I left a job in management consulting with a “big 4” accounting firm and embarked on what would become my second career in the audiovisual (AV) industry. While I was planning on making a career change, going into the AV industry was in no way my targeted path. Other than appearing in a high-school play, earning a degree in electrical engineering and occasionally attending theatrical performances, I was neither had a theatre background nor the foundational knowledge that would have been helpful in preparing me for what lay before me. 

Every time I attend a conference such as USITT, I am impressed by the number of students and newly minted graduates I encounter. Their excitement and optimism at being part of the theatre and entertainment world is inspiring. However, in the back of my mind is a consistently nagging question: While their university programs and internships are preparing them to be technically proficient, are they getting the benefit of good leadership that will in turn enable them to be successful in their fields? If you are a veteran and a “leader” who works with these individuals, this is where you come in.