Page 7 - Final Inspirational Women Issue

Inspirational Women

Dr. Jennifer (Konkin) Harper

Helping to Create Great Leaders

Photo by James Harper

Dr. Jennifer (Konkin) Harper is the Ron Rembisz helped her focus her Strategy. Here, Dr. Harper led a Center
principal of KoJeneration, chief investiga- research, so it was both scientific and of Excellence that specialized in the
tor of the Leadership Studies, a published impactful for the business community. custom design, delivery, and facilitation
researcher, and a gifted designer of This mentoring and coaching must have services of performance and develop-
programs that facilitates and identifies ment solutions to clients of all sizes, and
leadership. My editor wanted to know gained greater international exposure.
what advice Dr. Harper would give to She is now currently working in 7 coun-
other women starting a business today. tries and attributes the ability to custom-
Dr. Harper responded with “follow your ize programs to this experience.
passion and find a good mentor that is Dr. Harper received her doctorate in
willing to help guide you.” Simply put, but Consulting Psychology with expertise in
eloquently stated. She also added, “work leadership development and workplace
with people who will give you feedback performance. She even remained to
and coach you, or get a coach yourself to teach at Alliant in the area of organiza-
take your skills to the next level. I was tional psychology after graduation.
fortunate to have strong learning experi- Jennifer is Canadian and moved to
ences with my mentors, they believed in the United States about ten years ago.
me and set me up for success.” She is married to who she describes as
Dr. Harper conducted nation-wide “the most wonderful husband”, James
research into leadership behaviors that Harper, who provides an effective
predict performance. “research shows sounding board for her thoughts and
leadership is more about the behaviors ideas. Together, they have two very
we choose to engage in instead of our affectionate four-legged miniature
individual characteristics or personali- American Eskimo dogs. She is also a
ty” she says. By creating greater insight clarinetist and plays in the MiraCos-
into self-awareness around effective ta Symphony Orchestra. Playing the
and ineffective workplace behaviors, helped. Dr. Harper’s research won an clarinet is a creative outlet for Jennifer,
the team at KoJeneration works to award for research quality. She has been and she enjoys giving back to the com-
increase the performance of leaders a featured guest on The Coaching Per- munity. She also enjoys the friends and
through individual coaching, or group spective Radio Show where Dr. Harper colleagues she has met while perform-
programs. was interviewed on performance in the ing concerts and other ‘gigs.’
The Leadership Dashboard, the workplace, and impactful coaching tech- When I asked Dr. Harper to tell me
result of Dr. Harper’s research, is of niques. She has been a facilitator for the who she was in just a few words, she
particular interest to clients wanting to Los Angeles Chapter of the International said, “I’m passionate, and I like working
learn the strengths they may possess. Coach Federation where Dr. Harper with people.”
This data, compiled from the Dash- educated coaches on the effectiveness of I was able to ask her team, Rebecca
board, is transformed into a practical coaching techniques. The results of this and Hunter that same question, tell me
application of leadership and perfor- award-winning research have culminat- in one word, who and what Dr. Harper
mance. The client can develop these ed in the Leadership Dashboard As- is. Rebecca’s response was “authentic,”
qualities into tools they can effectively sessments, and best practice approaches and Hunter added “inspirational.” What
implement to become more effective to leadership development available an appropriate term to use to describe
managers. through KoJeneration. Dr. Harper, since she is one of a select
I was curious how mentorship may She describes learning a lot about group of San Diego Woman, that are
have played into Jennifer’s research and being a leader herself and about running being featured in our brand new premier
the creation of her business. Did she live a business from Michael Brainard. In section, ‘an Diego Woman Magazine’s
her own advice? She describes a number looking through Dr. Harper’s history, I Inspirational Women.’
of research supervisors and supporters could see his influence in her success. KoJeneration – 106A West Haw-
from the business community, but two While working with him, she was the thorne Street - FALLBROOK, CA
stand out as key contributors. Chief Operations Officer of Brainard - 442.244.7441
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