Welcome to Leadership Development Institute, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to enhancing organizational success in today’s dynamic business environment. Specializing in leadership development, organization design, and mental health advising, we empower clients to achieve sustainable growth.

Our journey began with a focus on Organization Design, identifying the pivotal elements of PEOPLE, PURPOSE, and STRUCTURE.

Our team of diverse associates blends academic rigor with practical expertise to tailor solutions that deliver tangible results. With a collaborative and results-driven approach, we ensure our clients receive exceptional service and achieve measurable outcomes.

At Leadership Development Institute, we prioritize understanding your unique needs, challenges, and objectives. Contact us today to discover how we can optimize your organization and unlock its full potential in today’s competitive landscape.

We strive to provide innovative solutions and resources that enable our users to develop their leadership skills, build strong relationships, and make a positive difference in their communities. Our goal is to create a supportive and collaborative environment where leaders can thrive and inspire others to reach their full potential.

The Leadership Development Institute actively contributes to society by extending its expertise beyond traditional training programs. We demonstrate a strong commitment to community enrichment through the provision of free seminars, making leadership skills accessible to a wider audience. Recognizing the importance of early leadership cultivation, the institute conducts youth boot camps, designed to inspire and equip young individuals with essential leadership qualities. Furthermore, their dedication to public service is evident in the tailored workshops offered to government agencies, aiming to enhance leadership capabilities within the public sector and contribute to more effective governance.

At Leadership Development Institute, effective leadership is the cornerstone of success. Our experienced associates work closely with executives, managers, and teams to cultivate strong leadership skills, foster a culture of innovation, and enhance overall organizational performance.

Our Trio-Leadership certification program offers stackable certificates in Personal Development, Effective Team Relations, and Organizational Leadership, reviewed and approved by academics and professionals in the leadership science field.

We specialize in organization design, helping organizations adapt and evolve to stay competitive.

We collaborate with clients to develop tailored strategies that optimize structures, streamline processes, and enhance collaboration, aligning organizational structure with strategic goals for greater efficiency and effectiveness.

Our organization’s mental health advising services support organizations in navigating complex challenges.

We diagnose organizational health, and provide strategic guidance, regulatory compliance support, and operational optimization solutions tailored to each client’s unique needs.

We understand the unique challenges and opportunities in today’s economic environment and are dedicated to helping our clients successfully navigate this dynamic landscape.

Dr. Magdy Hussein | Founder and CEO

Educator, Author, and Speaker

Dr. Hussein is a triple-time awarded Official Judge in the LearningElite Program held by Chief Learning Officer Magazine. He is serving as a member of the Workforce Group Business Intelligence Board – WBIB. He is also a member of the National Speakers Association – Northern California Chapter. 

Dr. Hussein is a subject matter expert in Organization Design. He created his model of “Community By Design”. He developed workshops to educate our communities, board members, and activists on how to make the needed corrections in their institutions’ design instead of using temporary solutions that eventually expire in a short time. “Chronic problems in our organizations tend to be caused by underdeveloped designs,” said Dr. Hussein. 

As a scholar, Dr. Hussein is a fellow with the Quarterly Franklin by London Press a scholar in Organization Design, and a reviewer for Emerald - International Journal of Organizational Analysis, Social Responsibility Journal, and Journal of Marketing Intelligence and Planning. He is also an editorial board member of the International Journal of Core Engineering & Management (IJCEM). Dr. Hussein is an entrepreneurial executive consultant who blends academic foundation with field solutions. He believes in science and statistics when it comes to evaluating clients’ needs and demands. He offers clients solutions based on 25 years of engineering experience along with his scholarly achievements. 

Loving to help people in crisis, he served as a member of the Board of Directors of Mercy-USA, a national relief organization that operates domestically and globally. Dr. Hussein is a community activist and has served as a Boy Scouts of America commissioner. Currently, he is the founder and CEO of the Leadership Development Institute.

Connect with Dr. Magdy Hussein

• Author of HELLO … GOODBYE: My Journal to Recovery From Anxiety and Depression. Find Hope When All Seems Lost

Dr. David Paul doctor of Organizational Management, MBA, and ROTC graduate from Princeton University | Board of Directors Member

Following release from active duty in the Air Force, Dave held positions at Lockheed Martin Missiles and Space as well as Pratt and Whitney, Chemical Systems Division as well as several highly classified positions as he remained a reserve officer.

He completed his USAF Reserve assignment in 1999 as Assistant to the Deputy Chief of Staff of Requirements for the US Space Command.

He authored “Dare to Care” on how High Mutual Regard impacts your business and personal engagement and productivity was published in 2018.  The book is based on the first extensive actual data on how Gen-X’ers feel cared for, valued, appreciated, and connected.  The implications of his research are hugely important for management and leadership education.”

Connect with Dr. David Paul

• Author of Dare to Care: How High Mutual Regard Increases Engagement and Productivity

Dr. Steve Woodsmall, Major, USAF-Retired | Board of Directors Member

Steve Woodsmall enlisted in the US Air Force in 1975 and retired at the rank of Major (0-4), holding several command positions. He has a master’s degree in Business Administration and a PhD in Organization and Management.

He has also published academic papers and authored a book, “It Beats Eatin’ Lizards—Lessons in Life and Leadership.”

Following retirement from the Air Force, Steve held positions at the US Securities and Exchange Commission, Federal Aviation Administration, several corporate leadership positions, and a community action agency, and has taught and consulted at several colleges and universities, including managing the Brevard College Business and Organizational Leadership program. His 2019 TEDx talk on systems thinking has been viewed over 85,000 times.

He has been active as a member of the Transylvania County Planning Board, and board of directors for Brevard Little Theatre, where he has also performed in numerous productions. He is currently on the board of SAFE of Transylvania County and Hendersonville Theatre. He conducted seminars for the Transylvania County Chamber of Commerce, is a member of the Transylvania County NAACP, and is also a former NCAA women’s college basketball official, AAU national official, and is currently a North Carolina high school basketball official. He and his wife BJ reside in Pisgah Forest, where their property is a National Wildlife Federation-certified wildlife habitat.

Connect with Dr. Steve Woodsmall

• Speaker on the Ted Talk, Systems Thinking is Not Optional: Lessons From a Pandemic

Check out Dr. Steve Woodsmalls New book! 

• It Beats Eatin’ Lizards: Lessons Learned in Life and Leadership

Abid Malik

M. Abid Malik has over 25 years of sales, marketing, fundraising, R&D, and business development experience, starting from Silicon Valley, California

Most recently, he co-founded Indus Venture Group, which mentors innovative start-ups in investment readiness and assists in M&A. Since 1990, his companies have generated over $500 million in revenues

Currently, he is managing ChatGPT, Gemini, and DeepSeek integration with e-commerce, a startup report card, low to mid-market due diligence, and medical applications to improve productivity and reduce operating costs

He started and successfully ran two Silicon Valley technology startups with 50 to 100x exits. During 1995. He co-founded and invested in a California-based Nexlogic, where he served as CFO and member of the board for ten (10) years. Nexlogic provided prototype design, fabrication, assembly, and testing of printed circuit boards with 72 employees and over 17 million in annual revenues. Naprotek, a portfolio company of Edgewater Capital Partners, acquired Nexlogic in 2022

Dr. Barry Ryan Board of Directors Member 

Barry Ryan brings a wealth of experience in higher education leadership, legal affairs, and governance to board service. As a first-generation college graduate, he understands the transformative power of education and has dedicated his career to fostering student success and institutional growth.

His academic administrative roles span from founding director of a teaching and learning center to department chair, dean, vice president, and president of diverse institutions, including those in various stages of development—from startups to those requiring significant turnaround. Notably, he has successfully resolved dire accreditation issues, stabilized finances, and grown enrollment at struggling institutions.

Ryan’s distinguished legal and governmental background includes significant time at the Supreme Court of the United States, where he interacted with international guests, drafted the Chief Justice’s speeches and annual reports, and coordinated external communications with various government branches and the media.

He has extensive board governance experience across non-profit organizations and higher education institutions, encompassing financial oversight, fundraising, legal matters, strategic planning, and recruitment. His deep expertise in regional accreditation (WASC/WSCUC, SACSCOC, HLC), including serving as a two-term WASC/WSCUC Commissioner, further strengthens his governance capabilities.

Known for a collegial, enthusiastic, thoughtful, and entrepreneurial leadership style, Barry is deeply committed to creating opportunities for all, fostering an inclusive environment, and driving institutional improvement and sustainability.

Richard Riehle, PhD | Associate

Richard has over forty years of experience in the software industry.  He has been a computer programmer on multiple kinds of computer systems. He has managed large-scale projects and has been a software engineering consultant on others for many major companies.   Since the late 1980’s he has focused much of his life on software education in his own company, Adaworks, in Palo Alto.  

He accepted a full-time position as a Professor of Computer Science and Software Engineering at the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.   In 2012, he retired from full-time teaching but continues to teach as an adjunct professor at other schools by invitation. He is the author of numerous scholarly articles and papers, most recently an article in IEEE Computer

Tom J. Tafolla, B.S., J.D. | Associate

Over his career, Tom has worked for a number of years as an electromechanical packaging designer and in product documentation for manufacturing.

His work experience includes time at companies such as Fluke Automated Systems, ADAC Laboratories, Dialog Information Systems, Watkins Johnson Company, Intertrust Technologies, Applied Biosystems, ESS Technologies, and Sony Computer Entertainment of America.

The job roles filled over his career have included patent coordinator, FDA regulatory specialist, patent and trademark administrator, legal analyst, contracts, and legal services manager.

Maamoun ElMelhy, Ph.D.

A highly analytical and results-driven professional, holding a Ph.D. in Management and a Certified Six Sigma Black Belt, adept at guiding organizations through complex challenges. With extensive experience in both academia and industry, they excel at designing and implementing effective strategies for process improvement and organizational excellence.

Their consulting expertise is evidenced by their role as a Freelance Academic Researcher and consultant, where they have provided critical advisory services for numerous PhD research projects, encompassing data analysis (SPSS, Smart-PLS), research design, and academic writing. This experience, combined with their background in Quality/Energy Consulting and Total Quality Management (TQM), positions them to offer strategic insights and actionable solutions.

They are also a skilled educator, having developed and delivered curricula on subjects like Procurement & Inventory Management, Organizational Excellence (EFQM), and Lean Enterprise, demonstrating an ability to translate complex concepts into practical applications. Their strong foundation in research, coupled with a deep understanding of quality and operational methodologies, makes them an invaluable asset for advisory and consulting engagements.