Article: R14CC Quick Chats with Anushka Shirali, MEd
Uncover the personalities behind Region 14 Comprehensive Center! Join us for bite-sized glimpses into our experts' lives—from their passions to professional insights. Meet the diverse minds shaping education in Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas, and see what fuels their drive for positive change.
Meet Anushka Shirali, MEd
Anushka enhances team collaboration by bridging research and practice, promoting inclusivity, and encouraging discussions that focus on achieving better student outcomes over time. With 14 years of experience in government, non-profit, and international university settings, she excels in education product development, team engagement, and technical assistance.
Anushka Shirali speaks to the room at an Advancing Opportunities for All meeting in San Antonio, Texas
What book has made the biggest impact on you?
My favorite book, 'Start with Why' by Simon Sinek, holds a special place in my professional journey. The reason lies in its profound exploration of purpose and motivation. In my role, understanding the 'why' behind our actions is about fostering a collective sense of purpose and unlocking the unique strengths within each individual.
The book has been instrumental in shaping my approach to empowering others. Instead of seeing myself as a guide or mentor with all the answers, I strive to foster an atmosphere that encourages individuals and teams to discover their motivations and capabilities. It's not about imposing solutions but encouraging a shared exploration of purpose and meaning.
Could you provide insights into your distinctive role as the Capacity-building Lead for teams at R14CC?
In reflecting on Kristin's leadership at Westat, her organizational development background has played a crucial role in bringing a systems-thinking approach to all our projects on Region 14. Recognizing the significance of internal continuous improvement, a key aspect of my role is to support conversations on being reflective about our work and our approach. Through leadership meetings and other portfolio-level meetings, we design peer learning opportunities for staff to address implementation challenges and scale effective practices to improve service delivery across our region. We also have regular conversations as a team around the conditions for successful projects that helps us support projects to meet their intended long-term outcomes. Check back soon for a new product around how we support capacity-building conversations!
How does R14CC actively cultivate a culture centered around collaboration and relationship-building internally?
There are numerous ways to enhance team culture, and one effective approach is through social connections. Understanding who your teammates are beyond their work is crucial for collaboration. With most of our team working from a home office and traveling for client engagements, we recognized we needed to build more opportunities online to be able to connect outside of our work as well. Happy teams tend to have high retention rates. After work hours, we organized paint nights, offering a glimpse into each other's lives, including families. Volunteering together became another bonding activity. We even created a virtual story for a library's YouTube channel, showcasing our teamwork. From team Jeopardy to Wheel of Fortune to cooking and eating together, these ideas foster camaraderie and provided us a chance to connect outside of work that only make our work on projects even stronger!
What is one app or tool you cannot live without in your work?
Smartsheet is essential to my daily work. It's a versatile hub for project management, offering customized sheets for planning and tracking tasks. The real-time collaboration streamlines communication, and automation features boost efficiency. Its accessibility across devices ensures constant connectivity, making it an invaluable asset that enhances team collaboration and project success.
Learn more about Anushka's professional background and connect with her on LinkedIn!