Sabine Mathilde Maiberger, in fulfilling the requirement for an EdD in Educational and Professional Practice, has written and published a dissertation titled Shaping Leadership: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Inspirational Moments.
Leadership is a complex construct shaped by the interplay of theoretical knowledge and meaningful personal experiences that define us as people. This autoethnographic exploration investigates the question: How have inspirational moments shaped the leader I am today?
Understanding how personal experiences influence leaders’ development is critical to leadership studies. Maiberger selected nine pivotal life moments through personal artifacts, such as journals and letters, ensuring analytical depth. These moments were analyzed through servant, justice-oriented, and transformational leadership theoretical lenses. Findings revealed eight key lessons: embracing vulnerability, reflective practice, trust-based leadership, advocacy, curiosity, adaptability, valuing humble beginnings, and centering leadership on faith and purpose. These lessons highlight the deeply personal nature of leadership, emphasizing reflection and inspirational experiences as catalysts for growth and transformation. By connecting inspirational moments with leadership identity and practice, this research advances the study of personal growth and authentic leadership development.
Maiberger is an educator, researcher, and leader with over 25 years of experience in international education, holistic learning, and leadership development. Her work focuses on transformational leadership, inquiry-based education, and the role of inspiration in shaping learning communities.
Read and download Maiberger’s dissertation, Shaping Leadership: An Autoethnographic Exploration of Inspirational Moments, here.
