How Linda Smiley Built a Stronger Community Through Leadership & Communication

How does one person build a stronger community without ever holding a formal leadership title? In this episode of Expressions of Leadership, host Michele Kawamoto Perry welcomes Linda Smiley, a researcher, educator, speech-language pathologist, and community leader whose career has centered on helping people communicate, connect, and create meaningful change. Linda shares stories from her academic career, including more than 200 peer-reviewed research publications and the co-founding of Wings On Words at the Child Language Center, supported by the University of Arizona Department of Speech, Language & Hearing Sciences and the Scottish Rite Foundation. After moving to Magdalena, New Mexico, Linda began a new chapter of leadership by creating MagEboard, a volunteer-run community communication network that now reaches more than 700 people in a town of roughly 850 residents. In this conversation, Michele and Linda explore: 🔹 What Linda's academic career taught her about leading people and teams 🔹 The power of partnership and collaboration 🔹 Building programs that can thrive beyond their founders 🔹 The connection between communication and leadership 🔹 How MagEboard became a vital resource for the Magdalena community 🔹 Building trust and encouraging respectful dialogue 🔹 Leading without a formal title or position of authority 🔹 Community service, civic engagement, and making a meaningful difference Linda's story is a powerful reminder that leadership can begin simply by seeing what your community needs—and choosing to show up. Don't miss an episode! Be sure to subscribe to Expressions of Leadership on YouTube and follow us on Instagram @ExpressionsOfLeadership. Discover more about host Michele Kawamoto Perry and The Forward Project's expertise in culture transformation and leadership development at www.theforwardproject.co. CHAPTERS 00:00 Welcome to Expressions of Leadership 00:15 From Language to Leadership 04:44 Lessons from Brain and Behavior 08:00 Believing Parents, Changing Care 15:41 Building Wings On Words 19:54 Partnerships That Last 23:16 Finding Home in Magdalena 28:13 The Birth of MagEboard 34:43 Rapid Response in Crisis 38:54 Communication Builds Trust 40:52 Recognition and Ongoing Purpose 43:58 A Legacy of Service 48:03 Wisdom & Whimsy #Leadership #LeadershipDevelopment #CommunityLeadership #Communication #CommunityBuilding #LeadershipPodcast #WomenInLeadership #ExpressionsOfLeadership #TheForwardProject #ReimaginingLeadership