To lead with love is to create a ripple that reaches far beyond words or actions—it transforms people. This week at Cumorah Academy, we had the opportunity to meet two remarkable mentors, Phil and Gloria Bowman, who reminded us that real leadership begins with kindness, faith, and genuine connection. Their visit wasn’t just inspiring—it was personal. Through their stories, laughter, and sincerity, they showed us that to lead with love is to serve, to listen, and to believe in the potential of others.
Meet the Bowmans
Phil and Gloria Bowman are more than mentors—they’re a living example of how partnership and purpose can shape lives.
Phil was born in Boise, Idaho, and built a distinguished career in Marketing and Organizational Behavior, earning an MBA from the University of Virginia. Over the years, he led marketing and sales teams at companies like Pizza Hut, Sprint, TD Bank, and PetSmart, guiding people across North America with vision and integrity.
Gloria, born and raised in the Washington, D.C. area, graduated from George Washington University with a degree in Interior Design. She worked in Interior Design and Real Estate Development in California and D.C., blending creativity with leadership. Together, they raised four children—now between ages 36 and 45—and are proud grandparents of nine.
The Bowmans have lived in many places, served in leadership roles within their Church, and even spent time in Hawaii working at the Polynesian Cultural Center, where they mentored students in research and analytics. Their journey is a story of love, service, and discovery.
And for those wondering—yes, they have fun facts too. During the pandemic, Phil and Gloria moved to the mountains, where they became true foragers—searching for morel mushrooms, picking huckleberries, and even making their own honey as Phil took up beekeeping. When asked what animals they would be, Gloria chose a bird, and Phil a fish—proof that opposites not only attract but balance each other beautifully.
Lead with Love Through Empowerment
When the Bowmans spoke about leadership, their message was clear: to lead with love is to trust others to grow and develop. Real leaders don’t micromanage—they empower. They listen. They give others space to contribute.
Phil shared a moment of reflection that resonated deeply with everyone:
“I used to spend a lot of time thinking I had to have the answer. But it’s important to listen to other people’s ideas because every idea has value… even if it’s not the one you choose.”
That kind of humility and openness is what leadership rooted in love looks like. At Cumorah Academy, students are constantly reminded that leadership isn’t about control, it’s about connection. It’s about lifting others so that the whole team succeeds.
Here, we celebrate your potential, growth, joy, and faith. We believe that to lead with love means to see greatness in others before they see it in themselves.
Building Unity That Lasts
Another profound lesson from the Bowmans centered on unity. Gloria spoke about how understanding both your strengths and weaknesses can make teamwork stronger. “When you combine different skills and perspectives,” she explained, “you can achieve much more than you could alone.”
That truth echoed through the room. Unity isn’t just about working side by side—it’s about believing in one another. When you lead with love, you create teams where everyone feels valued and heard.
Students reflected on how empowering it felt to participate in open discussions and see that every voice mattered. The Bowmans reminded everyone that love isn’t soft—it’s powerful. It brings order to chaos, purpose to challenges, and hope to uncertainty. And when leaders embody love, they naturally invite others to do the same.
Lead with Love, Lead with Purpose
In their final message, the Bowmans turned to every student in the room and said something none of us will forget:
“We believe you’re going to save the day. The world needs people like you—kind, capable, and full of purpose. Remember that God placed you here for a reason. Make the most of every moment.”
Those words captured the spirit of what Cumorah Academy stands for. To lead with love isn’t just a leadership philosophy—it’s a way of life. It means choosing compassion over competition, faith over fear, and community over isolation.
Every week at Cumorah, mentors like the Bowmans share their journeys to help students discover their purpose and strengthen their values. It’s a rhythm of learning that blends leadership, personal growth, and spiritual depth.
Because leadership here isn’t about status—it’s about service. It’s about learning how to turn knowledge into impact, and how to lead with love even in a world that often values speed over sincerity.
Why Leading with Love Matters
For young adults stepping into a fast-paced, uncertain world, it’s easy to feel like leadership is reserved for the loudest voices or the highest titles. But the Bowmans remind us that the most powerful leaders are those who care—who build bridges, not walls.
When you lead with love, you influence people not through authority, but through authenticity. You listen before you speak. You see people, not problems. And you make space for others to shine.
This is what makes leadership timeless. Whether in business, relationships, or community projects, the ability to lead with love transforms everything it touches. It creates trust. It builds courage. And it leaves a legacy that lasts.
The Bowmans’ visit was a reminder that leadership can be gentle and strong at once—that empathy and vision are not opposites but partners. They showed that the courage to care is one of the most important traits a young leader can have.
The Cumorah Way: Where Leadership Meets Love
At Cumorah Academy, we believe that every person has a divine purpose—and that purpose grows when surrounded by mentors, friends, and faith. Here, students from around the world come together to learn how to build their futures on values that matter.
From personal development to business, from teamwork to spirituality, every class and conversation is built around one simple idea: lead with love.
Because when you do, everything changes.
You find confidence without arrogance.
You build success without selfishness.
And you serve without expecting recognition.
And that’s what real leadership is all about.
Ready to Learn How to Lead with Love?
If you’ve ever dreamed of studying in an international environment that helps you grow in leadership, faith, and purpose, Cumorah Academy is waiting for you.
Join a community of young adults who are learning to lead with love, make a difference in the world, and discover their divine potential.
Learn more and apply for a semester at Cumorah Academy.
Written by Thamara Egídio
Collaboration with Fernando L. Ferreira Jr.
Supervision by Kamila Uberto Fullmer
