In her impactful TEDx talk, “Servant Leadership,” Katrina Foster explores the transformative power of leading with empathy and selflessness. Drawing on personal experiences and poignant anecdotes, she emphasizes the importance of prioritizing the needs of others in leadership roles. Foster argues that true leadership is not about exerting authority, but about fostering collaboration and nurturing potential in team members. She highlights how servant leadership can create a culture of trust and empowerment, ultimately leading to enhanced performance and fulfillment both personally and professionally. By advocating for a shift from traditional authoritative models to a more compassionate approach, Foster inspires leaders to rethink their methodologies and embrace the profound impact of serving others. Through her compelling insights, she encourages viewers to cultivate a leadership style that values service as a pathway to collective success.
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Through this inspiring secular talk, Reverend Dr. Katrina Foster highlights moments in Jesus’ life when he demonstrated servant leadership. She shares how we can try and fail, get up and try differently, and ultimately keep going when we take our gifts and use them to be a blessing and benefit to the world. Since she was ordained in 1994, Rev. Dr. Katrina D. Foster has served as a pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America. Over her storied career, Katrina has been featured on PBS, received the Bronx Borough President’s Citation of Merit, and was awarded the NAACP’s Women Who Make a Difference Award in 2001. From 1994-2010 she served in the Bronx as the chair of the Lutheran HIV/AIDS Education and Prevention Task Force, the Bronx Clergy Task Force, and as a board member of the Northwest Bronx Community and Clergy Coalition. At the ELCA Churchwide assembly in 2007 Pastor Foster came out on the floor and faced the possibility of being defrocked. A year later, the policy toward gay pastors with families was changed to recognize the call of these pastors and to recognize their families. In May 2025, Rev. Foster was elected to be the next Bishop of the Metropolitan New York Synod of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx
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Video “Servant Leadership | Katrina Foster | TEDxRiverdale” was uploaded on 08/08/2025 to Youtube Channel TEDx Talks