Jul 22, 2020
Tom De Vries has been President and CEO of the Global Leadership Network (GLN) since September 2017 and is committed to spending his career developing leadership skills in everyone who is called to lead through the Global Leadership Summit. In his previous role as General Secretary of the Reformed Church of America (RCA) he provided leadership to over 1100 RCA congregations and new churches, and also took care of 100 mission workers in 40 countries around the world. Tom has a Doctorate in Ministry from Western Seminary, a Master of Divinity Degree from Fuller Seminary, and a B.A. from Wheaton College.
Tom discusses his strong belief that his personal mission is to be a leader of leaders for Jesus Christ and how that sense has been fostered in him since he was a young man. He shares his journey of building then growing his church with his wife in his early twenties, which then led him into a denominational role in the US and abroad to better learn, connect and influence his peers. Tom also gives the details of the lineup at this year’s Global Leadership Summit and why he is inspired in these challenging times by the range of business leaders, thought leaders, pastors, and academics who are speaking at the digital summit in 2020.
“Leadership comes in all places and from all people.” - Tom DeVries
This week on The Wow Factor:
- Tom’s appetite for growth, learning, and leadership
- How his dad helped shepherd him into leadership as a child
- Why raising up new leaders is something he values as part of his own development
- The ripple effects of his father's death
- The value of having mentors to guide you and help you connect authentically with others
- The importance of adaptive leadership
- His role at Global Leadership Summit and the impact it has had on him as a 20-year attendee
- Details of the summit and how important it is to be refreshed as a leader in these challenging times
- Power of being able to connect as a team through discussion
- Examples of leaders Tom is inspired by
Tom De Vries’ Words of Wisdom:
Leadership is helping people to discover the grander vision within themselves. Effective leaders work to do that by inspiring hope, inciting change, and having an impact.
Resources Mentioned:
- Procrastinate on Purpose: 5 Permissions to Multiply Your Time by Rory Vaden
- Richard and Terri Greenly’s story
- Signup for the Global Leadership Summit
- Global Leadership Summit Speakers 2020
Connect with Tom De Vries:
Connect with The WOW Factor:
- Website
- I Like Giving: The Transforming Power of a Generous Life book by Brad Forsma