FIU Center for Leadership, Miami Foundation train new generation of Miami leaders


If you want high potential professionals to be taught leadership skills, go to the experts.

That’s why FIU’s Center for Leadership (CFL) was called upon for the leadership development portion of Miami Fellows – a program designed to engage a new generation of Miami leaders. Each year, the Miami Foundation selects 16 young, civic minded individuals who are inspired by the community and have demonstrated leadership abilities to participate in the 15-month-long program. The Fellows range in age from 27 to 37 and have been working in their careers for 5 to 15 years. These Miami-area residents come from both the public and private sectors and include people who have or want to pursue elected office as well as those dedicated to non-profit causes.

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The Center for Leadership came to the attention of the Miami Foundation when Javier Alberto Soto, president and CEO of the organization, attended CFL’s Leading Decisions, a program designed for company presidents, CEOs and other C-suite executives who hold pivotal decision making roles in their organizations.

“I experienced firsthand the powerful skills of the team at the Center for Leadership in presenting relevant information and helping each attendee discover and strengthen their own skills,” said Soto. “We have a significant leadership training resource [in the FIU Center for Leadership] that provides local perspective, and I wanted the Miami Fellows to be able to tap into that asset.”

“We’re delighted that Javier’s experience in the Leading Decisions program opened up the possibility for  our center to partner with the foundation,” says Mayra Beers, director of Operations for the Center and a Knight Research Fellow.“We get so excited about sharing our brand of leadership, one that focuses on a deeper understanding of self, and how that awareness informs our decision making. This is a tremendous opportunity for these young, highly energized professionals.”

Vance Aloupis, statewide director of The Children’s Movement of Florida, was a member of the Miami Fellows VI class and a part of the selection committee for this year’s cohort. “Much of the Miami Fellows’ experience was about the understanding of leadership and its challenges – particularly, on a community level,” he says. “It was through the partnership with the FIU Center for Leadership where we, as Fellows, were encouraged to understand and overcome those personal barriers to leadership that each of us faced as young professionals.”

Charisse Grant, senior vice president for Programs at the Foundation, says the Center is the place to go for meaningful leadership development. “The Center presented terrific sessions to our previous class. This time, we want the Center to be even more involved.”

Industrial psychologist Garth Headley, CFL’s associate director for Marketing and Corporate Relations, will serve as the co-director of the CFL portion of The Miami Fellows program. Headley also served on the Fellows Selection Committee this year.

“Through our extensive and ongoing research with the highest level of corporate executives, we have been able to ascertain from seasoned leaders what makes for ethical and effective leadership and what they in return look for in high potentials,” says Headley.

“As with all of our programs, we hope to offer these insights to the Fellows, as a way for them to access the expertise of those who have been there and done that- a way of reaching into the future and grasping the lessons for use in the present,” he adds.

For the first time this year, the Center will host the first leadership lab – a three day session at which faculty members will present research and offer insights tailored to the participants age, experience, career and aspirations.

– Courtesy of lead.fiu.edu

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