Inspired to support a new generation of leaders, Anthony Foxx, the 17th United States Secretary of Transportation and 54th mayor of Charlotte, North Carolina, has stepped into the role of co-director of the Center for Public Leadership (CPL), joining Hannah Riley Bowles in leading the center.
In a conversation in his new office, Foxx emphasized his belief that now is a crucial time to prepare leaders for the public sphere. Citing the interplay of political dynamics, technological changes, and climate challenges, he described the current environment as an “elixir that cries out for leadership.”
“We face a profound crisis of leadership, and it is a challenge that we, as a Center, must be prepared to meet,” said Foxx.
And he believes CPL is uniquely positioned to build up leaders who can meet this demand. Over the last two decades, CPL has supported over 1,000 Harvard Kennedy School students through educational scholarships, experiential learning opportunities, and access to mentorship and alumni networking. This community of CPL fellows draws students from all corners of the world who are determined to tackle today’s most pressing issues. With the student experience top of mind, Foxx echoes CPL’s commitment to help inspire and develop principled, effective public leaders.
“Our students want to be directly engaged in trying to solve the world’s hardest problems. Is there an opportunity for us to help them do more of that?” asked Foxx.
Foxx’s ties to education run deep. Raised in a family of teachers, he fully believes that the role of learning extends far beyond the classroom. Even as he now takes on leadership of a flagship center, Foxx prioritizes his own continuous learning.
“I’ve spent most of my adult life thinking about and working on sharpening my own leadership practice. I realize that a part of being a leader is to help sharpen other people’s leadership ability—and having others help me sharpen mine,” said Foxx.
Foxx’s style of leadership is driven by intentionality, which was evident throughout the conversation. Pausing thoughtfully before speaking, he emphasized the importance of observation and experimentation in his approach to leading CPL.
“I have learned so much both by observation and by experience. But there is no substitute for tangible experience. I can’t think of doing anything that would hold more promise for the future than working with the team at CPL to prepare a generation of leaders.”
He sees the “convening power of CPL” as a strength and acknowledges that the world demands new and different approaches, strategies, and skills from the center to increase its impact.
“I believe in the power of our team,” affirmed Foxx. “We have faculty members who are bringing important thinking into the classroom and the broader world. I want to help elevate them even more.”
From Foxx’s perspective, the ability to inspire confidence and demonstrate competence as a leader is essential in today’s fragmented environment. He notes that CPL has the opportunity to leverage its intellectual resources to prepare students for modern challenges—not only through educational programming but through opportunities students have to meet with current leaders in the world. CPL’s practitioner programs, including the Hauser Leader program and the Gleitsman Program for Leadership in Social Change, bring high-profile leaders from across public, nonprofit, and private sectors to the center.
Foxx, the Emma Bloomberg Professor of the Practice of Public Leadership at Harvard Kennedy School, also facilitates collaboration with current leaders in his course, “Critical Pathways: Leadership Dilemmas in U.S. Transportation.” In this course, Foxx challenges students to problem solve using cases and simulated activities to decide how best to prevent the next East Palestine, Ohio train explosion, to better regulate Boeing aircraft production, to prepare the world for driverless vehicles and commercial space travel. In every instance, the answers are not clear. The course aims to build students’ confidence in decision-making within a collaborative environment—a skill Foxx considers crucial.
Next spring, Foxx’s course “Bridging the Divide: Issues, Culture, and Leadership” explores divisions within American democracy. By examining case studies and engaging with practitioners, students will practice navigating ideological differences through key themes such as listening, relationship building, and delivering results across divides. The course emphasizes the importance of learning these skills to foster a new generation of democratic leaders capable of bridging partisan gaps and strengthening our democratic process.
In Foxx’s course and in his approach to leadership, he emphasizes the significance of learning from real-world experiences. During his early professional years working on Capitol Hill, he would pick up on different leader’s approaches to problem-solving by carefully observing who was filing amendments, how thoughtful the amendments were, what kind of across-the-aisle relationships they had, and how they managed those relationships.
Foxx’s observation and curiosity extend beyond the political arena. He draws his inspiration for effective leadership from a range of domains, including the arts.
“I find leadership examples everywhere,” said Foxx. “The challenge of finding one’s voice as a political leader is very much like the challenge faced by musicians to find their voices on an instrument. There are certain rudiments that must be addressed first, but the ultimate objective is always to develop one’s unique voice. Similarly, while we are helping students understand the world around them and the tools of policymaking, we want them to become the best version of themselves, including finding their own voices.”
Just as jazz musicians find unique style within a collaborative setting, Foxx believes CPL fellows have the potential to inspire and mobilize others. He emphasized that “the world definitely needs problem-solvers.” Within an academic environment, students can build off one another’s skills, ideas, and experiences, a process Foxx views as invaluable.
CPL offers students a unique opportunity to master foundational skills while discovering their own leadership style. He believes that when leaders understand their unique contributions, they are better equipped to make a meaningful impact.
“If students leave the doors of the Kennedy School feeling like they really know what they bring to the world, that is almost as important as anything else they learn.”
By Annie Christman