By Dr. Lindsay Whorton, President of The Holdsworth Center

Dr. Lindsay Whorton is president of The Holdsworth Center, a nonprofit that builds stronger leaders for Texas public schools through its world-class programs and services.

At The Holdsworth Center, we don’t believe leadership is a skill you’re born with. It can and should be taught.

That’s why we offer world-class leadership training to teachers, principals, superintendents and other leaders in Texas public schools. When you drive into our campus along the shores of Lake Austin, there’s a quote from our founder, Charles Butt, etched on the entryway: “Leaders find the walls and place the ladders.”

This quote inspired me to start a conversation series called Place the Ladder. Every few months, I sit down with dynamic leaders like Dr. Ruth Simmons, Admiral William McRaven or basketball great David Robinson to talk leadership. What events shaped their path as leaders? What advice do they have for others?

Each guest brings unique insights and actionable advice, showing us how leadership can transform an organization, from schools to businesses.

Admiral McRaven talked about the importance of keeping hope alive when you’re in a leadership position.

As a leader, you’ve got to make sure the people working for you understand that even in the toughest times, there’s hope. Every time I get a little worried about the direction of the country, I go talk to students. They reinforce the goodness of where we are.

Admiral William McRaven

David Robinson echoed McRaven’s sentiment: “I stay encouraged because my joy doesn’t come from what the president’s saying or what’s happening in the court systems or what anybody else is doing. My joy comes from the opportunity to wake up every day and fulfill my calling.”

At our most recent event, I interviewed Dr. David Yeager, an expert on the science behind motivating young people. He shared fascinating research on how leaders with a “mentor mindset” can inspire young people to accomplish incredible things.

“There’s an underuse of a broader sense of contribution and purpose behind how we connect with (young people),” Yeager said. “I think Gen Z accurately perceives unfairness and injustice in the world. If we frame the contributions they make as a part of addressing those, then they’re going to be motivated to fix them.”

It’s in candid, unscripted moments that we really dig into what leadership means, how to navigate challenges and what it takes to build a legacy of impact. These discussions are more than interviews—they’re opportunities to explore what’s possible when we open ourselves up to new ideas.

No matter who is sitting on stage with me, there’s one question I ask every guest: Who placed the ladder for you? Everyone has an answer and often, it was an educator.

Dr. Ruth Simmons’ – one of the most respected university presidents of this generation – pointed to the teachers in her segregated high school in Houston ISD who not only told her she had the ability to go to college – they helped her make it a reality.

“They were people who did more than work at a job,” Simmons said. “They were people who did more than settle for what the conditions were at that moment. They were people who looked out for young people who didn’t seem to have a future, and they gave us one.”

This strikes to the core of what we do at Holdsworth. We believe a key ingredient to improving public education is investing deeply in the people working in our schools today.

At Holdsworth, we aim to place the ladder for educators, just as they do every day for the future leaders of our state and nation.

We hope you’ll join us for future Place the Ladder events. On October 22, we’re discussing how to reimagine education to prepare students for jobs of the future with Austin marketing guru Roy Spence and venture capitalist Ted Dintersmith.

Click here to register. We livestream every event – or you’re invited to come in person and enjoy a pre-event reception with drinks and hors d’oeuvres. You can also access recordings of past events on our website.

The Holdsworth Center is a nonprofit building stronger leaders for Texas public schools through world-class leadership training programs and coaching.