What Van Gogh Taught Me About Leadership

Written By Katie Goar

Sometimes the best “work” you can do is stepping away from work.

This week I took a day off and wandered through an art museum ... checking the box on not one but two of my vision board goals.

As I moved from gallery to gallery, I noticed something powerful: the real impact came not just from the art’s beauty, but from the struggles and stories behind it.

Van Gogh, for example, created masterpieces during a lifetime marked by hardship and misunderstanding.

His genius might have been lost if not for the leadership and persistence of his sister-in-law, Jo Van Gogh-Bonger, who championed his work long after his death. Her advocacy ensured his legacy endured.

This reminded me that leadership requires a belief in the unseen potential of others. And investing in others - like Jo did - yields a return almost every time.

Katie Goar

Katie Goar started with Quadel in 2007 and began leading the company as president in 2015. She leads Quadel with a special focus on customer service and has shifted the company’s corporate culture, resulting in excellent client service. Katie brings decades of affordable housing experience, having held a mayor-appointed position in city government, a top-level management role within a public housing authority and provided portfolio oversight for 60,000 multifamily units before leading Quadel, a nationwide affordable housing consulting and training organization.

https://www.katiegoar.com/
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