Sammuel S.

Tracy
9/27/16

Qualities of Leadership
I first met Sean Holt several years ago as a colleague working for Renaissance Adventures. My first
impressions of Sean were that he was quick witted, and that he channeled his mental acuity more
efficiently than our peers (a quality that I believe qualified him for a leadership position within the
company). Since then he has demonstrated characteristics of leadership that have impacted my self-
development positively in several keenly beneficial ways. Sean has demonstrated his strengths as a
leader in many ways, but here I will touch upon three of the more meaningful instances wherein the
quality of this sterling individual may be best reviewed.

Perhaps one of Seans most distinctive strengths as a leader is the far thinking rational intellect that he
applies to both planning and problem solving. In terms of parable he would neither give a man a fish,
nor teach him how to do so himself. Sean would, in fact, be far more likely to see a market growth
opportunity for creating sustainable economic infrastructure in a rural area and begin raising funding for
trade schools and local programs that self sustainably support the development and growth of the local
labor population and their awareness of resource management thereby increasing the prosperity of not
just the fisherman- who now has the ability to learn to fish alongside his peers at a staggeringly more
efficient rate, but also has access to new opportunities to exchange his gains from fishing into more than
mere survival/sustenance in a growing local community. That is the kind of mind we are talking about
when we discuss Sean Holt. He is seven steps ahead, more even, when it comes to solution
management, and he demonstrated those qualities to me very clearly when helping me to work through
my own problem management issues. With Seans guidance I was able to move past some very
troubling personal and professional issues and I have been a much happier and more successful person
because of his invaluable skills. In this particular case I was having trouble visualizing a solution for
dealing with weight management and personal fitness. Sean walked me through how I could be a
healthier person and laid out a thorough, logical process that would result in a long term solution to my
personal struggles with weight, diet, and exercise. 40 pounds lighter, and with an incredibly more active
and engaging lifestyle (that has resulted in rippling improvements in many other facets of life), the
results of his far thinking guidance are not merely tangible- they are exemplary. His ability to problem
solve issues I wouldnt even have for a year after starting to make changes- accurately mind you- was
nothing short of staggering.

Sean also possess a motivational enthusiasm, an infectious exuberance, that I see makes others not only
more apt to listen to what he has to say, but also far more likely to follow his instructions. When
addressing large groups or individuals Sean has consistently demonstrated an ability to engage and
motivate listeners in a way that goes beyond base communication. I remember vividly a flat- dismal
lecture the work staff of Renaissance adventures was being given (or subjected to if you prefer) by a
senior management staff member named Aaron Pirnack. Not only were the majority of the work staff
ignoring Aaron in favor of other activities, mainly quiet side conversations, those that were listening to
him felt little to no motivation to actually follow his instructions. It was then that Sean stood up and
asked if he could clarify what Aaron was saying to the room- and gave near verbatim the exact same
speech. The difference was that nearly all eyes were on Sean, and staff participation in the senior
managements requests went from a negligible margin to very close to 100% for the following week or
two. Sean has the depth of character and the force of charisma to not only move mountains, but to get
other people to join together and move alongside him.

Part of Seans appeal to his peers is undoubtedly the sense of sincerity one gets from him. In all of his
dealings with me Sean has been forthright and earnest. His encouragement, his critiques, are all taken
seriously because he doesnt mince words and he maintains a level of integrity that reassures others and
eases his ability to successfully communicate as an acquaintance, friend, colleague, boss, or employee.
One should never underestimate the value of reliable communication skills in terms of effective
leadership, and Seans communication skills are quite valuable indeed. I have seen him navigate through
hostile work environments fluidly thanks largely to his ability to convey an articulate and earnest
response to the questions and demands of others. This has also set him apart as a leader, because when
given a choice it is my understanding that in our shared work environment many people would seek out
Sean for resolution rather than any of the other senior management or support staff members. They did
this because they knew Sean would give them a straight answer right away, and would participate in a
sincere dialogue that opened the way for either future discourse or meaningful reprieve.

Sean Holt demonstrates great strength as a leader. His intelligence, enthusiasm, and integrity are only a
small part of what he offers in any leadership role. My willingness to follow Sean and lend him my
support are as much a testament to his abilities as are the tangible positive impacts he has made in my
life and the lives of numerous others who have benefited from his leadership. I was impressed with the
strengths Sean possessed when I first met him, and it is my sincere belief that he has only grown, and
will continue to develop as a leader.