Program Overview

Minerva Foundation for BC Women
Follow A Leader™
A Workplace Experience

Overview

The Follow A Leader™ program addresses the leadership development challenges faced by women in the early stages of their careers; these women are also referred to as “emerging leaders”.  Emerging leaders are paired with an established leader in business, government, academic and community sectors for a three part series of leadership training workshops and job-shadowing opportunities.

The objectives of the program are to:

• To provide a forum for emerging leaders to experience different leadership styles and explore networking opportunities with successful women in diverse fields.

• To profile senior women business, government and community leaders and facilitate conversations for both community leaders and emerging leaders in the area of leadership development.

• To provide a vehicle for good corporate citizens to support leadership development and advance opportunities in all facets of society for women in British Columbia.

Application Process

• Established leaders willing to share their time, expertise and experiences are selected from each community.  Diversity in age, background, ethnicity and discipline are sought.   

• Emerging leaders submit an application outlining their leadership qualities and career goals. The Minerva Foundation selection committee then determines the successful candidates.

• Established leaders are paired with emerging leaders for the duration of the program.

• Prior to the three-part workshop series, each participant completes a personality assessment tool called Insights Discovery System to enhance self-awareness and leadership style, while exploring approaches to different leadership styles. 

Program Format

Part I
All participants attend a half day leadership workshop. The curriculum discusses values, vision and explores individual strategies which may impede personal leadership. Sharing your story and experiences is an important element to this workshop.

Part II
Emerging leaders then Follow A Leader™ into their workplace and job shadow for a half day.

Part III
This follow-up session takes place over dinner with a key note speaker to provide participants an opportunity to de-brief, share their leadership learning experience and celebrate their successes.

Results
Since the program began, over 200 leaders and emerging leaders throughout BC have benefited from this innovative leadership development initiative. The skills learned and contacts made have helped many emerging leaders develop their personal leadership style, set career and personal goals and in many cases; develop longer term mentor relationships.  Follow A Leader™ continues to grow in popularity and takes place annually in Vancouver and Victoria.

Follow A Leader™ is proudly sponsored by: