Maryland Attorney General Anthony Brown holds one of the most critical leadership roles in state government. He oversees a vast legal enterprise responsible for protecting Marylanders, enforcing state laws, advising government agencies, and upholding justice. The work is complex, highly collaborative, and deeply consequential. And because the Office of the Attorney General (OAG) is only as strong as the leaders within it, Brown knew he needed to invest in strengthening the people who drive its mission forward.
That’s why he turned to the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute.
“People are the Office of the Attorney General,” Brown explained. “Lawyers are exceptionally trained in the law, but not necessarily in leadership or management. Yet the work we do requires bringing people together, reconciling different viewpoints, and solving complicated problems. That takes strong leadership.”
Brown made the decision to lead by example. He and his executive leadership team enrolled together in a multi-month cohort at the Grasmick Leadership Institute. The impact was immediate. Rather than relying on one-off instruction or theoretical models, the program created what Brown described as a community of leaders — people learning collaboratively, exchanging ideas, and building trust across practice areas.
“We saw so much value,” he said, “that we expanded it right away.”
To date, the OAG has sent staff members across all levels, including leaders, managers, and emerging leaders, through the Institute’s programs. Participants consistently report that the experience improved their ability to motivate teams, communicate with candor, and make more informed leadership decisions.
One of the most consequential outcomes was the creation of “leadership clusters,” cross-unit management groups that now work together to solve problems that used to be handled in isolation.
“Because the Institute emphasized community, we built community,” Brown said. “Problems in one division are often the same in another. Bringing leaders together has made us far more effective.”
Brown is unequivocal about the value of the investment: “Most people aren’t born leaders. You have to invest in leadership. The Grasmick Leadership Institute helped us build a culture of leadership — one that strengthens our entire organization and, ultimately, our service to the people of Maryland.”
