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Q&A with Global Leadership Expert Dr. Gama Perucci

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Dr. Gama Perucci is currently serving as the Interim Provost, Dean of the Faculty and Dean of McDonough Center of Leadership and Business at Marietta College. He is also the McCoy Professor of Leadership Studies. A native of Brazil, Dr. Perruci has been published widely on the topic of the impact of globalization on leadership development.  He also often serves as a consultant for colleges and corporations, speaking about leadership issues in our rapidly changing world. After his lunch discussion with students, Courtney Wong '15 sat down with Dr. Gama Perucci for a brief interview.

Courtney Wong (CW): Where are you from and how does your background influence your current work? 

Dr. Gama Perucci (GP):  I grew up in Brazil, a largely Catholic state, but in a Southern Baptist community which was run by missionaries. Right from the beginning, I was exposed to the question of how one lives in an environment where he or she is the predominant minority.  And when I moved to the US, I again felt the experience of being a minority.  These experiences have propelled me to ask today: how do we create leaders who are aware of cultural differences but can help people feel more included and feel apart of the whole process? 


CW: How do you think my generation can be mobilized to deal global issues we are bound to face in the near future?

GP: Well for starters, your generation has been given the privileges of technology and economic comfort to allow that kind of perspective -- the feeling of obligation to promote change and solve problems. Secondly, you don't really have a choice!  You must be engaged. If you take the apathy route, things will not get better.  The "Generation Xers" were faulted as being slackers, lacking ambition, and not being socially conscious.  Rather, the Baby Boomer generation instilled the sense of urgency to address global issues in the Millenials.

CW: You are an avid traveler.  Which places have you enjoyed the most?

GP: I'm not sure about a favorite place, but what I really enjoy about visiting a place is getting a sense of the local flavor -- what’s important to people in the area, how they express that value, and how they look at their place in the globalization process.