Designing Leadership
The 2024 Designing Leadership season is closed.
Designing Leadership is the only cohort-based program for professionals across sectors in the Greater Philadelphia Area that leverages a theme to approach leadership development in unconventional and nuanced ways. The highly curated content, combined with an intentional non-linear approach, allows advanced concepts, deep conversations, and innovative solutions to emerge quickly. Leaders and managers engage in professional self-reflection and discovery that unlocks new tools, strategies, and resources to enhance their performance. With dozens of participants each season, the experience provides an unparalleled opportunity to connect and network with a wide range of professionals across disciplines and backgrounds. The program caters to mid-career professionals, but all career levels are welcome.
Sample Topics
| Accountability | Future Thinking | Negotiation |
| Coaching/Mentorship | Holistic Practices | Power and Influence |
| Communication | Implicit Bias | Project Management |
| Conflict Management | Imposter Syndrome | Self/Collective Care |
| Decision-Making | Inclusivity | Setting Boundaries |
| Diversity, Equity, Inclusion | Leadership Styles | Strategy |
| Facilitation | Management | Strengths/Weaknesses |
| Giving/Receiving Feedback | Mentorship | Workplace Culture |
This year’s theme is Empowerment
Empowerment is at the forefront of how to optimize employee performance and strengthen workplace culture. Empowerment refers to the authority and autonomy in which an organization or leader provides their team to make decisions and take the necessary steps to achieve their goals. Intertwined is power, which is the capacity to influence others to act or believe in a certain way. This season explores how these two complimentary themes affect each other in the context of leadership. Participants will gain a clear understanding of their own power as leaders and how to leverage it thoughtfully, how to advocate for themselves and their team, and how to navigate situations outside of their control without losing their sense of agency. The program’s intentionally curated and interactive experience will provide tools, activities, and strategies for participants to bring back to their workplace and beyond.
Key Takeaways
|
|
|---|---|
|
|
SPRING 2024 CURRICULUM
The curriculum will be a hybrid format over 3 weeks in April 2023. Participants should plan to be fully present for the entire program, including attending all sessions in full, completing pre- and post-work assignments and actively engaging with facilitators and the cohort throughout the program.
Week 1
Expand Your Individual Power
Holistically understand what makes up your unique power and how it shows up in the workplace. Leverage your power and value thoughtfully and effectively by assessing work within your control and influence. Advocate for your priorities and set boundaries.
In-Person | Thursday, April 11 | 10:00AM – 4:00PM (11:30AM Lunch Provided)
WEEK 2
Create a Thriving Team
Empower teams when you are the driver of the work. Whether you are the supervisor, administrator, or disruptor, gain clear alignment on roles, responsibilities, communication, and behaviors for team members to take ownership and bring new ideas. Build trust and accountability through timely and mutual feedback and exercising your authority in healthy and effective ways.
Virtual | Tuesday, April 16 | 9:00AM – 11:00AM
Virtual | Thursday, April 18 | 9:00AM – 11:00AM
WEEK 3
Commanding the Workplace Ecosystem
Manage accountability when projects encounter distributions or exercises of power that are challenging and out of your control. Embrace adaptability and problem solving by charting clear paths forward that empower you and your team despite obstacles.
In-Person | Friday, April 26 | 12:00 – 5:00PM (11:30AM Lunch Provided)
Alumni Reception | 5:00 – 7:00PM
Testimonials
“The Designing Leadership program was truly an Aha! moment for me, which is surprising after more than 20 years of leadership within nonprofits and government. I credit this program with illuminating my perspective and offering tools for examining the “why” guiding the work I have been dedicated to professionally. I took so much away from my participation—most importantly the time to think critically about my next act was incredibly valuable.
Three tangible takeaways and unexpected learning moments I retained from the program are:
Setting a boundary around shrinking myself into places that I have outgrown. I was able to be honest with myself about the healthiness of my relationship with comfort and loyalty and how playing small can hinder how I am being poured into and what I have to pour into others.
I learned that Imposter Syndrome is real and challenges many of us. The program helped me identify and relieve the shame of it by taking away the stigma and recognizing how I can embrace it, which is a concept I had not considered.
The New Golden Rule! I was taught to treat people the way you want to be treated. One of the facilitators presented the idea of “The New Golden Rule” for our consideration, which is to treat people how THEY want to be treated. I have since incorporated this into my day-to-day interactions. It reminds me to interact with others guided by a curiosity to learn about their unique perspectives relieved of bias.
I could, most certainly, share more evidence of how wonderfully the Arts & Business Council curated this program. However, I will conclude with acknowledging that this was about more than the professional spaces I occupy. With the support of a cohort of other leaders I was able to dig deep in a supportive community. I encourage anyone, who not only wants to develop their professional will, but also take an intimate look at the root of their leadership philosophies, to attend this program.”
Ivory Allison, American Liver Foundation, Class of ’21
“Designing Leadership revealed a number of common thread lines from my personal history that are directly related to my professional attitude and accomplishments. By taking the time to look inward and backward, we are better able to assess our place in the present and our potential future. I also gained a new perspective on my personal journey towards self-actualization. The work that I am doing both personally and professionally is combining my idealized success with real-world business success; these two lives are not mutually exclusive, but may in fact be one in the same.
A major takeaway from the program was the idea of positive conflict. In a wonderful exchange with another cohort member, I asked the question, “Isn’t all conflict negative?” I was met with an enthusiastic response outlining all the ways in which conflict can in fact be positive (constructive criticism, disagreement without losing one’s cool, personality vs. performance).
It was heartening to discover through the program, particularly amongst cohort members who were a similar age to me, that we are all experiencing together the same feelings, doubts, achievements, conflicts and struggles about our leadership journey.”
Alex Styer, Bellevue Communications Group, Class of ’21
2024 FACILITATORS
For Professionals Interested in Designing Leadership
ABC recommends the following rates depending on the size of the business or organization. A 15% discount is offered when multiple individuals participate from the same institution. Payment is due prior to the first session.
| Category | Cost | |
|---|---|---|
| Businesses Sponsoring Employees | ||
| Large (>50 employees) | $1,250 | |
| Small (<50 employees) | $1,000 | |
| Business Professionals Paying Out of Pocket or Self Employed | $750 | |
| Nonprofits Sponsoring Employees or Board Members | ||
| Mid-Size and Large ($5M->$10M Budget) | $1,000 | |
| Grassroots and Small (<$1M-$5M Budget) | $750 | |
| |
||
Many employers support the program fee as an investment in leadership development, community engagement, and good corporate citizenship. Interested individuals are encouraged to inquire about their professional development with their department and/or supervisor. The Arts + Business Council is available to assist with facilitating a conversation between an interested professional and their employer.
Title Sponsor
Supporting Sponsors
