Leadership is a key ingredient in school-to-work system building. School-to-work systems represent an attempt to create a new administrative structure that integrates many formerly disparate programs, partners, and agencies and an attempt to change traditional institutions and views of education in profound ways. To accomplish those goals, school-to-work system executives must possess the skills of both inspirational leaders and accomplished managers. School-to-work leaders must foster an atmosphere conducive to collaboration by encouraging trust, flexibility, and acceptance of change and making collaboration a win-win situation for everyone involved. Many effective school-to-work executives create structures and processes designed to make empowerment a practice as well as a principle. Successful executives develop a shared vision and comprehensive strategy for their reform effort. They must also possess a willingness to experiment, thorough understanding of change, and commitment to learning. Examples of effective leadership in school-to-work systems may be seen in the following organizations/programs: Boston Private Industry Council in Massachusetts; East San Gabriel Valley Regional Occupational Program in West Covina, California; and Kalamazoo Country Education for Employment Program in Kalamazoo, Michigan. (Contains 13 references and an annotated list of 13 resource organizations. (MN)