Beyond IQ: Emotional, Cultural & Leadership Intelligence

with Lee Mozena, Zena Consulting

“Weaving the Work” requires understanding people and organizations accurately, so leaders can manage the full complexity of the teams and communities they serve. Most people know Emotional Intelligence (EQ). But EQ alone isn’t built for communication across diverse staff, board members, funders, volunteers, and communities. Culture is primarily about communication and values. In Eastern Washington, political and ideological differences among staff, board, funders, and the communities served may be a source of friction that can quietly undermine mission and goals. EQ isn’t built for that heavy lift because it lacks a systems lens.

This session builds on EQ using Deloitte’s six traits of inclusive leadership: Commitment, Courage, Cognizance of Bias, Curiosity, Cultural Intelligence, and Collaboration, and adds two more complex frameworks. Cultural Intelligence (CQ): the capacity to read and work across differences — ethnic, generational, linguistic, and ideological. Distinct from empathy, CQ requires specific knowledge and skills. Leadership Intelligence (LQ): via Adaptive Leadership, which distinguishes technical problems (solvable with authority and expertise) from adaptive challenges (requiring new ways of thinking, behaving, and relating across a system). LQ drives Courage and Collaboration — holding teams through change without losing the people who make the work possible. Combined, these skills give leaders a more inclusive roadmap in any setting. EQ is the floor, not the ceiling, and it’s not enough in today’s workplace.

A nonprofit serving immigrant and refugee families has a high-EQ executive director — yet turnover among some cultural groups runs higher than others. This session shows why: EQ tells her how people feel; CQ explains why certain behaviors may make some feel as if they don’t belong, and where small cultural shifts could help; LQ reframes the issue as an adaptive challenge, not a personnel problem. Her takeaway is a personal leadership inventory and a clearer path to success.

Speaker

Lee Mozena is the founder and owner of Zena Consulting, established in 2008, which helps leaders navigate today’s increasingly diverse and complex nonprofit landscape, resolve conflict, and build partnerships that expand organizational impact.

Drawing on earlier careers in business communications and family support, Lee brings a systems-thinking approach to problem-solving grounded in a simple premise: organizations function much like families, and the same relational patterns that strengthen or undermine families also shape leadership, teams, and partnerships.

Her core services include Leadership Communication, Conflict Management and Facilitation, Inclusion Strategies, Community Engagement, and grant support.

Based in Seattle and Bellingham, Washington, she has worked with nonprofits, public agencies, educational institutions, associations, faith-based organizations, and small businesses throughout the Pacific NW and USA.

Lee holds an M.A. in Liberal Studies from The New School and a B.A. in Communications from Temple University, along with certifications in Basic Facilitative Mediation, Community Adaptive Leadership, Training Specialist (University of Washington), and Cultural Detective®.

This will be Lee’s third presentation at an NPLC conference. See the full list of her speaking engagements, clients, and projects at www.zenaconsulting.com.