Program Objectives

The Executive Program for Women Leaders is a unique development experience that breaks away from the typical “how-to” leadership program to focus on attributes of being a leader. The program focuses on distinctive and common challenges, opportunities, and potential derailers that women face in their work environments. Participants learn essential beliefs, behaviors and techniques that result in greater visibility and career opportunities as well as overall confidence and competence as business leaders.

The program utilizes targeted assessments, tools, and techniques that create a greater awareness of, and focused action on, the sticky floors, the self-limiting behaviors, assumptions, and beliefs that hold women back in their careers.

These sticky floor issues include:

•     building strategic relationships
•     leveraging political savvy
  
•     making your words count
•     negotiating for what you want and need
•     achieving work/life balance
•     asking for help and taking prudent risks
•     balancing perfectionism with excellence

Through diagnostic instruments, action learning exercises, and one-on-one coaching before, during, and after the course, participants will learn to overcome specific limitations as they lead themselves, their teams, and their organizations, while bolstering their “promotional intelligence.”

Who Should Attend?

The program is for fast-track women leaders and high-potential executives heading teams, driving change initiatives, and directing business units.

Program Benefits

The Executive Program for Women Leaders empowers women with proven performance strategies that help them, their teams, and their organizations achieve ultimate success. Participants will develop leadership strategies and skills to:

• Acquire more corporate visibility
• Build stronger strategic relationships
• Develop authentic political savviness
• Build an engaging climate for your team
  
• Develop and be able to "flex" your leadership style
• Handle more responsibility and exert greater influence  
  
• Make your words have greater impact
• Negotiate for what you and your team want and need
  
• Coach and mentor others
• Improve work/life balance for yourself and others
  

Organizations benefit from this program through:

• The advancement of women in the talent pipeline
• Increased retention of qualified talent
• Expanded diversity within the upper echelon of the organization
• Succession development opportunities for high-potential candidates
• Better business results

Program Content

Program content is based on the book titled It’s Not A Glass Ceiling, It’s A Sticky Floor, written by Rebecca Shambaugh. The author and instructors will share their own case studies and experiences, adding depth to the content. Topics include:

Getting to Know Yourself Better

• Assessing your sticky floors
• Defining your values and authenticity
• Achieving work/life balance
  
• Establishing true commitments
  

Defining Yourself as a Leader

• Creating a climate for engagement
• Developing and flexing your leadership styles
• Leveraging your emotional and social intelligence
• Establishing your executive presence
• Leveraging your political savviness
  

Leading the People Around You

• Social Intelligence
• Political Savvy
• Executive Presence

Building Strategic Relationships

• Expanding your networks
• Letting go and taking prudent risks
• Asking for help
• Mentoring others
  

Making Your Words Count

• Adapting to styles
  
• Balancing inquiry and advocacy
• Speaking up to be heard
• Negotiating for what you want and need
  

Living Your Plan

• Connecting the dots
• Shaping your future
• Being you as a great leader!

Faculty Leaders

Faculty Director
Lynnette Demerest

Faculty Leaders
Mary Alice Callahan
Peg Clarkson
Rebecca Shambaugh

For more information contact:

Penn State Executive Programs
Smeal College of Business
The Pennsylvania State University
382 Business Building
University Park, PA 16802-3603

Phone: 814-865-3435
Fax: 814-865-3372
On the Web: http://www.smeal.psu.edu/psep/index.html
Email: psep@psu.edu