Designing Leadership
Designing Leadership is Philadelphia’s premier professional development program designed for nonprofit professionals in the arts and culture sector and creative business professionals in leadership roles. Participants build their skills in key areas such as strategy, communication, power and bias, and management. With renowned local faculty who have a pulse on Philadelphia’s happenings and dozens of participants in each year’s cohort, Designing Leadership also provides an unparalleled opportunity to connect and network with a wide range of professionals across disciplines and backgrounds in the area.
Applications are currently closed. Please contact Liz Thompson at [email protected] for more information and to be notified of the 2022 season.
SPRING 2021 CURRICULUM
SESSION 1
Reimagine your defining qualities, challenge imposter and survivor syndrome, and apply new approaches to project management.
SESSION 2
Explore the effects balanced approaches can have on your leadership style, as well as your organization or business. Build resiliency, embrace change, and support emotional work through individual and collective wellness.
SESSION 3
Discover how perceptions and assumptions impact day-to-day interactions, projects, and decisions. Learn tools and practices to anticipate bias and promote inclusive thinking individually and among teams.
SESSION 4
Practice inclusive accountability, conflict management, and decision-making when (not) in power. Explore the differences between mentorship, coaching, and management.
SESSION 5
Feel connected with what you do and continue to build community with others remotely. Lead in a crisis by balancing damage control with longer term strategy.
SESSION 6
Dare to dream – find the inspiration and vision to creatively and positively effect change. Dig deeper into topics from the program with different specialists.
Testimonials
“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
Bellevue Communications Group, Class of ’21
Spring 2021 Faculty
Quinn Bauriedel
Peter Mostachetti
Shavon Norris
Jenn Richards
Brett Robinson
More information for creative business professionals
Applicants must demonstrate their professional connection to the Greater Philadelphia creative community and be in a management or leadership role.
For creative business professionals, many employers support the program fee as an investment in leadership development and community engagement. 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.
The Arts + Business Council recognizes this year has brought unparalleled change and many have been financially effected. There is a $1,250 program fee; however, we invite businesses and individuals confronting financial hardships to contact Liz Thompson at [email protected] A limited amount of scholarships are also available for nonprofit professionals.
Presenting Partners
