Redefining leadership

Growing up in the Inland Empire, Alex Lemos ’09 once believed leadership meant being the best and brightest in the room. While working as an accountant at a Grand Terrace firm, Lemos, who had recently completed the rigorous CPA exam, enrolled in the School of Business & Society’s Master of Business Administration, Finance Concentration program, a decision he made to explore what leadership could be.

“It doesn't matter how talented you are as an individual. Sometimes talent doesn't translate into good leadership,” he said. “Passing the CPA put my confidence and determination at an all-time high and I began to wonder what else was possible.” That sense of possibility led Lemos to where he is today: Vice President of Accounting for Stater Bros. Markets. There, he applies a leadership foundation shaped in a Redlands classroom, and rooted in empathy, communication, and collaboration.

“Being able to learn alongside other highly talented individuals and figure out how to lead groups was the biggest draw to the MBA program,” he said. “I chose U of R because it gave me the opportunity to receive a very high-quality education right at home, that would help me reach my long-term goals. My fellow students and the faculty provided that.”

Among the talented individuals in the classroom, Lemos found a mentor in Visiting Lecturer Keri Then. “Her form of communication and problem solving, especially when students challenged a topic, was good at helping us look at it from the proper point of view,” he said. Inspired by his experience with Then and eager to give back after graduation, Lemos returned to U of R in 2013 as an adjunct instructor. “When I work with others, and I’m faced with a challenging situation, I think about how she would handle it. That’s why I love teaching in general, and being able to do that at U of R was a dream come true.”

Today, with his focus fully on leading the Stater Bros. Accounting Department, Lemos continues to apply lessons from his Bulldog experience while contributing to the growth and stability of the Inland Empire.

“Everyone is capable of reaching their goals,” he said. “Fear and complacency can derail us from achieving our goals, but working hard to achieve success in the classroom can lead to a fulfilling job at a company where you have an opportunity to learn and grow. Fear is a natural response to emotional discomfort and uncertainty, but overcoming that fear can help you reach new levels of success.”

To Lemos, the return on a Redlands education is measured not only in professional accomplishments but in the people he leads, teaches, and builds up along the way.

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