GUIDING lIGHT lEADERSHIP dYNamics
A Gift Economy Service Provider
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Committed to Developing and Encourging Leaders to lead with Determination, Humility, Grit, and Grace
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About Guiding Light Leadership Dynamics
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I started Guiding Light Leadership Dynamics to address a need that I believe the myriad of other leadership development organizations and offerings were largely missing. That is the "why" of leadership versus only the "what" of leadership. Simply offering great leadership development content, tools, and resources is not sufficient. We as leaders need to be absolutely convinced of and committed to the fact that in service to those we lead and to the clients we serve, improving our leadership quotient is a “high gain” activity that requires an investment, even at the expense of other “important” activities that we perform.
The link below to an article that I wrote recently for a national publication will help illustrate my thinking and approach to leadership development.
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I am offering my services as part of the Gift Economy movement. To be clear, I do not have any requirement to be compensated for my services and simply leave that up to the receiver. So what is the catch? There is no catch. This is my way of paying back the outstanding educational, training, and experience that resulted from the taxpayers’ investment in me as a former United States Air Force officer. My 4 years as a cadet prior to commissioning and entering active duty were filled with such terrific opportunities for personal growth and development, all made possible by a considerable investment in me by the taxpayers. That training and experience has allowed me to have a rewarding career both in the military and for the last 25+ years in leadership roles in a world-class healthcare provider.
By not requiring any payment or compensation of any kind, I hope to reach clients who for many reasons may not be able to otherwise use my services. I would ask that those clients find a way to "pay it forward" somewhere in the gift economy or to contribute to their favorite charity. Note to those who do not have a favorite charity, please consider one near and dear to my heart, namely the Huntington’s Disease Society of America (HDSA).
For those who do find my services of value and are desire to encourage me to continue my mission, I certainly would accept whatever monetary or other compensation that you feel inclined to offer. I pledge to utilize any compensation I receive to growing my business with the goal of reaching more and more clients.
About Me
Ralph's Personal Purpose Statement: To live a life characterized by Service and Gratitude and to influence others to do likewise.
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Ralph Cagna began his lifelong study of and passion for leadership dynamics as a United States Air Force cadet. Upon completing his undergraduate studies and commissioning, he started his professional leadership journey as an Air Force officer. He left active duty after 6 years of service, entered the USAF Reserve, and made a "soft landing" in civilian life in Healthcare Information Technology leadership where he has been working for the past 25 years. As a member of the leadership team of a major healthcare provider, Ralph has taught classes in leadership development and has served as an Employee Engagement Coach. He has written for national magazines and frequently speaks on subjects related to leadership and overcoming challenges. In addition to his USAF leadership training, much of Ralph's leadership formation and philosophy is rooted in his Catholic faith.
Ralph holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from Grove City College and an MBA from Baldwin-Wallace University. As a USAF Reserve officer he also completed advanced leadership training graduating from the USAF Air Command and Staff College. Rounding out his formal education, Ralph earned a CPHIMS certification from the Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society and a BRMP (Business Relationship Management Professional) certification from the BRM institute.