The past seven months have truly been a journey, and
powerfully transitional. If you have read any of the other posts on this blog,
perhaps that goes without saying. Emerging Leaders isn’t any old professional development
experience – beyond participating in a program that assists me in developing core
competencies and furthering my managerial skills, I exit each session feeling
inspired to do and be more.
Each Fellow is so special, driven and inspiring in ways I wouldn’t
realize without the skillful facilitation of each gathering. We’re each drawn
outside of ourselves to see the bigger picture even as we look inward to explore
the value we bring to our respective organizations. The peer coaching, distinguished
panels and group discussions strengthen us. The curriculum alone has helped me
to cultivate my own professional growth but for me it is in analyzing and
sharing our experiences that the real learning happens. Yael, our facilitator,
poses the right questions at the right time to foster a space where curiosity
is encouraged, and exploration leads to results.
Over the past few months, my core competencies have evolved
for the better, and I feel my organization has already begun to benefit. Furthermore,
I better understand myself and my role as part of a broader community committed
to social justice.
We rarely have the opportunity to liaise with others outside
of our respective fields, and there is so much learning and skills sharing that
we can clearly benefit from. My only regret (aside from the fact that as with
all good things, this program must come to an end) is that I didn’t experience such
a program earlier in my budding career. Little did I realize on day one of
Emerging Leaders that these strangers around the table were to become my
strongest community of peers; sounding blocks for ideas, champions of my
professional development.
I was
struck by a statement from a fellow Fellow (couldn’t resist) who remarked that
it was exciting to feel this much professional growth within such a rapid
timeline. Without a doubt I can attribute much of my continued evolution to
Emerging Leaders – not only due to the valuable content of our curriculum, but even more so due to the
relationships fostered around the table between Yael and each Fellow. It’s a
community I’ve come to count on and am thrilled to be part of.
