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�Ӱ�ԭ��’s Office of Quality Initiatives and the Department of University Advancement teamed up to showcase two unique programs to a 2015 Caribbean-Canada Emerging Leaders’ Dialogue (CCELD) delegation during a recent visit to campus.

The 12 members of the CCELD group were at �Ӱ�ԭ�� on Sept. 26 and spent the morning learning about the �Ӱ�ԭ�� Leader, the Alumni Mentors program and participating in discussions.

“It was awesome. It was a tremendous experience and the team (at �Ӱ�ԭ��) was clearly prepared for us,” said Stephanie Murdock, a manager in the HR and administration division of the EXIM Bank in Jamaica.

She noted that the �Ӱ�ԭ�� mentors program is much more structured than those she’s been exposed to and she now sees how a framework may benefit her alma mater, the University of West Indies.

“I also liked what I heard about the �Ӱ�ԭ�� Leader and the fact you are doing something new and that it is working all over the university – this is impressive,” Murdock added.

ELD Canada develops and executes in-field leadership development programs for emerging leaders. It is the Canadian arm of The Duke of Edinburgh’s Commonwealth Study Conferences. Led by its President, HRH The Princess Royal, Princess Anne, it is a global leadership development not-for-profit.

Leaders from Canada are paired with those from other countries or regions across all economic sectors of labour, business, government, NGO’s and civil society, to participate in two-week in-field dialogues.

The CCELD’s goals were an obvious fit with �Ӱ�ԭ�� Leader and the Alumni Mentors program.

The �Ӱ�ԭ�� Leader is going into its third year and more than 170 �Ӱ�ԭ�� faculty and staff have participated to date. That number will continue to grow as the next cohorts begin their work this fall. And its impact is already being felt across the campus.

“What we now see are leaders across campus, regardless of cohort or job title, connecting with one another, sharing their stories, learnings, and feeling empowered to make further contributions to the university that they may not have recognized before,” said Amanda Dobbie, �Ӱ�ԭ��’s leadership development officer.

“�Ӱ�ԭ�� Leader is transforming �Ӱ�ԭ�� with how we think about leadership and how we work with one another. We truly are becoming a ‘leaderful’ organization where we led together and at the same time.”

Nancy Arnold, a facilitator with �Ӱ�ԭ�� Leader, agreed.

“The morning with the CCELD delegates was energizing; the level of engagement in the room was palpable.  Although there were many different organizations represented, we found ourselves discussing leadership through a very similar lens,” said Arnold.

“It affirms that growing collaborative leadership capacity is a challenge that organizations are grappling with in all sectors.  It was a pleasure to share the story of �Ӱ�ԭ�� Leader, and in doing so, how the university recognizes and meets this challenge.”

As for the mentors program, co-ordinator Yvonne Langen said it’s now considered a model for alumni engagement.

“We are cultivating the leaders of tomorrow,” said Langen. “We want our grads to succeed beyond the classroom.”

�Ӱ�ԭ�� grad Naomi Reaka was on hand to recount how she was unsure what the future held for her once she completed her Humanities degree (with a double major in Biology).

That is, until she was accepted into the mentors program and connected with mentor and �Ӱ�ԭ�� engineering alum Frank Koller who was, and continues to be, critical in being a sounding board for her. As a result of Koller and the network he introduced to her, Reaka is where she wants to be – working in the global health field.

“It has empowered me in other parts of my life,” said Reaka of the experience of having a mentor. “It was one of the most impactful things I did in my final year.”