Second Cohort Starts Leading Women@Tech Program

In March, the second cohort of 26 women leaders started the 2017 Leading Women@Tech program, which is offered by Institute Diversity with support from the Office of the President. This year’s program participation increased by more than 60 percent from the inaugural year and is more diverse by units, generations, and areas of expertise.

“Receiving the nomination to participate in the Leading Women@Tech program was one of the most validating experiences I have had at Georgia Tech,” said Tiffiny Hughes-Troutman, director of health behavior for Health and Well-Being and one of the invited participants. “This program provides me with critical leadership skills and coaching to help advance my career and a strong network of support from other women leaders on campus and in the broader community.”

The goal of the Leading Women@Tech program is to facilitate women’s professional development and academic and administrative leadership, and to build a community across the Institute that will advance a culture of inclusive excellence.

Co-led by Julie Ancis, associate vice president for Institute Diversity, and Pearl Alexander, executive director for Institute Diversity’s Staff Diversity, Inclusion, and Engagement unit, the program is designed to strengthen participants’ leadership abilities, enhance personal and professional growth, and support their overall career development, in addition to facilitating connections across the Institiute.

During the opening ceremony on March 23, Ancis stated, “Leading Women@Tech was a program that was years in the making. From the Climate Assessment Survey in 2013 to President Peterson’s listening sessions on gender equity in 2015, your expressed interest in more mentoring, networking, and collaboration experiences was taken seriously.”

This year’s expanded curriculum and activities will focus on the topics of efficacy, emotional intelligence, mindful leadership, strength building, intercultural dynamics, multiple role management, and networking. According to survey responses, 100 percent of the first cohort thought that Leading Women@Tech was relevant, informative, and engaging.

“We are thrilled to continue offering this program as an opportunity for participants to cultivate their leadership competencies individually and for the cohort to grow collectively through workshops, dialogues, and executive coaching,” reflected Alexander. “The second cohort has exceptional talent. Our vision is that this program will create the next generation of leaders at Georgia Tech who will realize their full potential.”

For more information on Leading Women@Tech, including this year’s participant biographies and program topics, visit www.diversity.gatech.edu/leadingwomenattech.