Dr. Kerry K. Fierke is passionate about enhancing the leadership skills, talents, and abilities of those around her, grounded in her belief that everyone possesses untapped leadership potential. She emphasizes that leadership is a journey, not a position or title, and encourages all to explore where it can take them. Earlier in her career, Dr. Fierke held management roles at Fortune 50 companies, Honeywell Inc. and Medtronic, focusing on marketing, communication, and education. In 2006, she became Manager of Leadership and Staff Development at Essentia Health, overseeing leadership and staff learning for 7,000 employees, including interprofessional sessions for 450+ managers and the development of an emerging physician leadership program. Dr. Fierke began teaching in academia in 2006 as adjunct faculty at the University of Phoenix, later teaching at the University of Wisconsin-Stout (2010–2013) for both undergraduate and master’s students, focusing on innovative leadership education. Since 2011 at the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy, she has integrated leadership theory and practice into the PharmD curriculum, teaching over 30 courses, publishing 30+ articles, and presenting nationally and internationally over 100 times. Her most notable contribution is the annual Women Impacting Healthcare conference (2012–2016), fostering interprofessional collaboration, networking, and practical leadership development. She continues to support leadership growth through her KerryOn leadership writings.

Dr. Lepp is a professional educator with leadership experience in business and healthcare organizations. His primary interest is in creating lasting, meaningful educational experiences and helping others learn through critical, creative interactions. The first 10 years of Dr. Lepp’s career were spent as a manager in corporate settings, including Best Buy Inc. and Target Corp in Minneapolis, and FirstSolutions in Duluth, Minnesota. His work focused on communication and training, helping field employees understand and implement information from corporate headquarters. This experience inspired him to pursue a doctorate to further understand the teaching and learning process. In 2012, Dr. Lepp joined the University of Minnesota College of Pharmacy as an Education Specialist, assisting administration, faculty, and students in implementing evidence-based instruction. His guidance helped faculty integrate active learning strategies into formerly lecture-based courses. Leveraging his management and communication background, he also speaks widely to local professional groups on conflict management, team development, and inter-generational learning. Since 2012, Dr. Lepp has taught in nine core courses, guest lectured in seven, and advised one student’s 4th Year Paper. In 2014, he received a Meritorious Service Award, and in 2015, he was appointed Course Director for all four Professional Development courses in the core PharmD curriculum.