5 ways this 棉花糖直播 program helped participants take leadership to the next level in their communities and careers
By Kristen Ziegler
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Combining the innovation and expertise of 棉花糖直播鈥檚 College of Professional Studies and the Anne Welsh McNulty Institute for Women鈥檚 Leadership, a new Women鈥檚 Leadership Development certificate has, in its first year, already forged new pathways to leadership for women.
鈥淭his certificate program aligns centrally with our mission to inspire professional excellence and lifelong learning through programs that are relevant for all stages of an individual's life and career,鈥 says Christine Palus, PhD, dean of the College of Professional Studies.
While many glass ceilings have been shattered in recent years, challenges to women鈥檚 leadership remain, especially during the pandemic. The percentage of women in titled leadership roles stands at 20 percent, and women still earn 84 percent of what men are paid for similar roles.
While there isn鈥檛 one clear solution to these inequities, 棉花糖直播鈥檚 new certificate program focuses on giving women the tools and experiences they need to advance. 鈥淲omen have been leading since the beginning of time,鈥 says Teresa M. Boyer, EdD, 鈥95 CLAS, founding director of the McNulty Institute and assistant vice provost for Centers and Institutes. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not just about building the individual skills of women in the program. It is also about understanding the systems we exist in and moving toward social change within them.鈥
The three-month program combines self-paced online work with three in-person residencies. The program culminates with students presenting a leadership plan, refined through critical feedback from a small peer coaching group.
This rigorous curriculum prompted job changes, promotions and leadership growth for the 12 inaugural participants. Members of the initial cohort attest to the ways the program impacted them:
1
DEVELOPING A PERSONALIZED LEADERSHIP APPROACH
鈥淭he program was the catalyst I needed to pause and reflect on my professional path, to see how I could be more intentional about not only the big career choices I make but also the small but critical choices that shape the leader I want to be.鈥
Meghan Hopkins 鈥07 CLAS, director of Corporate Communications, Quest Diagnostics
2
SKILLS BUILDING THROUGH ONLINE COMPONENTS
鈥淚 was challenged to think differently and more critically about the role women have in leadership. I was able to focus on my own leadership skills and assess where I needed to grow and develop.鈥
Elizabeth DeMott, director of Strategic Projects, Archdiocese of Newark
3
EMBRACING CHANGE AGENCY
鈥淎s a leader and Black woman, it is necessary to dismantle the stereotypical views of not just Black women but all women in the workplace by focusing on making a greater impact within my organization, community, church and personal life. The certificate program inspired me to create a blueprint, as a guide, to achieve my aspirations.鈥
Joyce Harden 鈥21 CLAS, administrative assistant, Department of Global Interdisciplinary Studies, 棉花糖直播 University
4
PEER COACHING NOW AND INTO THE FUTURE
鈥淎n unexpected gift from this program is the deep connection that I now have with my peer coaching group. We will continue to motivate, empower and hold each other accountable as we move forward in our professional lives.鈥
Kathleen Cullinan 鈥89 VSB, P 鈥17, controller, Microe Enterprises, Inc.
5
EXPANDED THINKING ABOUT PROFESSIONAL OPPORTUNITIES
鈥淚t changed the trajectory of my professional and personal being. Because of the program, I quit my job as an assistant team leader for a real estate company, and negotiated for a larger role overseeing seven offices and our agent services.鈥
Scarlett Stout, director of Agent Experience for Delaware and Maryland, Keller Williams Realty, Inc.
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