As a leader, Melissa Holdaway said it’s essential to be curious and have a willingness to get out of your comfort zone. “Great leaders are always curious and eager to learn, fostering an environment of continuous development and innovation,” she said. “By stepping outside of their comfort zones, they embrace a growth mindset, which drives their continued growth and inspires those around them to do the same.”
The two-time Titan 100 has embraced these attributes as the chief executive officer of Arizona Charter Academy and Fuse School Advisory Network.
Arizona Charter Academy is a Title I school, in the top 5% for student academic growth in the state. The school has been A-rated for 10 years and recently earned the A+ school of excellence award. The Fuse School Advisory Network specializes in the revitalization of charter school organizations nationally facing financial challenges.
As the chief executive officer of Arizona Charter Academy, this year marked groundbreaking changes for Holdaway who launched Fuse School Advisory Network to utilize the lessons learned over her career to help other schools. In the past year, Holdaway said she learned many leadership lessons while scaling a new company.
“The greatest lessons I learned is the value of reflection and knowing yourself – how to leverage your strengths and account for your weaknesses,” she said. “Go after your dreams by taking action, even if you are building while you are flying. Take the time to build a solid foundation that will help you grow and scale faster down the road.”
This year has also been one of growth, said Holdaway. “I have a big focus on utilizing AI to improve efficiencies in education, both in my school and in my new company,” she said. “K-12 education tends to be a late adopter of new technology and I want to capture the opportunities AI brings.”
As an avid mentor, Holdaway said she is involved with Leadership West, an organization that grows leaders, and Fighter Country Partnership, an organization focused on supporting the men and women at Luke Air Force Base. “Because I don’t come from a military family, I have been able to see firsthand the sacrifices families make serving our country,” she said.
In all of her roles, Holdaway said she relies on her ability to quickly connect with others and build trust. ”Having a diverse network of people that you can trust is invaluable and makes life more enjoyable,” she said. “I take great pleasure in forging deep connections to truly understand others while also maintaining a light-hearted approach with humor, ensuring I don’t take myself too seriously.”
