Authentic Leadership in Action: Growth Through Ownership
For De’Jon Collier, being a renegade means “challenging traditional methods, stripping away what’s unnecessary, and focusing only on what truly adds value.” It’s an approach that’s served him well as he’s taken on increasing responsibility as a project engineer, including managing trade partners almost entirely on his own.
One project that pushed De’Jon’s growth was Mid-City Lofts, where he set an ambitious goal: to master every aspect of HVAC work. “Coming straight out of college with limited field experience, I’ll admit I was nervous, but I leaned into the challenge and have grown significantly because of it.”
That willingness to embrace challenges reflects something De’Jon learned through RNGD’s Leadership Lab program. “It challenged the traditional notion that there is only one way to be a leader, and that everyone must conform to a specific leadership style,” he explains. “Instead, I learned that effective leadership can take many forms, and that authenticity is often a leader’s greatest strength.”
The program resonated deeply with De’Jon because it validated his own approach to leadership. “I’ve always found it difficult to fit into predefined molds, and the program helped me understand that I don’t need to be the most experienced or the oldest person in the room to lead effectively. I can lead in a way that aligns with who I am, by leveraging my strengths, values, and unique perspective.”
From the beginning of his career, De’Jon sought out opportunities to be exposed to different aspects of project management, consistently asking for more responsibility. He’s particularly proud of working toward completing monthly cost reports independently, a higher-level project management skill he probably wouldn’t have had the opportunity to develop elsewhere.
For De’Jon, renegades are “unafraid to integrate modern ideas and experiment with paths that haven’t been taken before. While there’s always a risk of failure, the constant drive to push boundaries often leads to meaningful innovation and impactful results.”
Originally featured in Biz New Orleans, this story dives deeper into the people and mindset shaping how we build. To read the full article visit Biz New Orleans.
