Deborah Boehm-Davis on career paths, leadership, and change (CAL129, S7E2)

Professor Emeritus Deborah Boehm Davis, George Mason University in the US, is one of the pioneers of the CHI conference. Deborah discusses her varied career building from her psychology background and spanning roles in human factors at Bell Labs, NASA, and General Electric. She then talks about her extensive tenure at George Mason University in both faculty and administrative/leadership roles, eventually becoming the dean of a college. Deborah shares reflections on career transitions, the importance of making a difference, effective leadership, the significance of collaborative work, and the challenges and strategies for navigating academic leadership, as well as managing academic responsibilities alongside family life. She also talks about her last industry role at Oculus Research and offers insights into the skills and approaches necessary for effective academic and industry leadership. The conversation also touches on the importance of interdisciplinary work and mentorship in academia.Overview:00:00 Introduction 00:29 Deborah Boehm-Davis: Career Overview03:24 Early Career and Human Factors04:54 Transition to Academia, Balancing Faculty and Administration Roles09:38 Reflections on Career and Impact17:39 Navigating Academic Leadership25:14 Collaborations, Interdisciplinary Work and Collegiality28:18 Interdisciplinarity and Being Strategic32:57 Transitioning to Leadership Roles, Developing Leadership Skills33:53 Handling Difficult Conversations36:39 Balancing Decisions and Stakeholder Concerns40:29 Engaging Faculty and Effective Communication44:51 Leadership in Industry vs. Academia46:54 Mentorship and Support Systems50:24 Proudest Achievements and Work Skills Course56:28 Reflections on Women in Academia59:37 Conclusion and Final Thoughts01:00:46 EndRelated links:Video of a 2024 talk to the Uni of Virginia HFES Student Chapter: “A Career in Human Factors: A Lifetime of Change” [40:51 mins]LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deborah-boehm-davis-05b50Website: https://psychology.gmu.edu/people/dbdavis

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