From the Nominator

In response to alumni feedback about a desire for more intentional professional development programming, the Lhota Office of Alumni Career Management launched the Emerging Leaders professional development series in the fall of 2022. This three-part series focused on identifying and developing skills in young alumni and professionals seeking or entering into a leadership role for the first time in their careers. It utilized the widely-recognized DISC assessment as the foundation of the learning principles for each lesson.  

Our office developed a curriculum on early leadership skills and strategies with an emphasis on communication, collaboration, inclusivity, and accessibility. The workshops required participants to be actively involved before and during each session, and provided actionable takeaways that participants could immediately begin applying to their teams. Throughout the series, we engaged 497 individuals, with an average attendance of 276 per session. The series is also available on-demand for those individuals who were not able to attend all three sessions live.   

As a result of this program, we have received excellent feedback from constituents sharing how they have used these principles in their daily work and the successful outcomes they have experienced as a result. We have also fulfilled the goal of our association to move alumni along the engagement continuum, deepening their connection and engagement with the university.

From the Judges

The judges were impressed by the high-impact programming targeted towards young alumni, which yielded impressive results despite a $0 budget. The ability to achieve a great ROI while garnering positive feedback from participants highlighted the winner's resourcefulness and effectiveness in engaging their target audience. The judges recognized the strategic approach and ability to create meaningful experiences.