Question: What do you get when you put 19 members of WPI’s faculty and staff together in a room for four hours, mix in guest speakers, thought-provoking questions, and honest discussions, and then repeat weekly for six weeks?
Answer: Learning, growth, a blossoming sense of community, and deepening leadership skills.
The Division of Talent and Inclusion tested this recipe, which they’ve named the Leadership Academy, this spring through a pilot program with a cohort of faculty and staff from across the university. Participants were nominated by leadership across campus and represented a diverse mix of longtime WPI faculty and staff who have shown interest in growing into larger roles as well as relatively new hires who have already stood out among their peers.
“This is a group of highly regarded, high-potential leaders who WPI wants to invest in,” says Lauren Turner, senior vice president of talent and inclusion and chief diversity officer. “The Leadership Academy is a new vehicle through which WPI is offering our community’s current and future leaders some valuable resources and tools to grow as professionals and as people.”
James De León, director of employee learning, engagement, and development, organized the leadership program, which featured topics as varied as how to incorporate emotional intelligence into leadership practices; financial literacy; and uncovering one’s own biases. Presenters included members of WPI’s administration, staff, and faculty, as well as distinguished guest speakers from Northeastern University, Boston University, and Brown University. Upon completion of the six-week program, each participant received a certificate in leadership development.
