Debra Joseph, SI Barbados
A Shared Vision – A Common Cause
The Diamond Education Grant (DEG) was set up as a charity by SIGBI in 1972. It contributes to the public benefit through its activity of making grants to women who need financial assistance for educational purposes. The grants enable the women to enter or return to employment, or move to a growing industry, by acquiring new skills. Those who receive the grants are enrolled in the Leadership Academy which provides support to encourage clarity of purpose with the presence of chosen mentors.
Jacqui Purnell from SI Leicester presented the report. The Academy is a pilot programme. There were eight Diamond Grant recipients. One of the main aims of the programme is to create a personal bond and a stronger understanding of SIGBI. In the first month there is orientation and personal introductions with goal setting. In month two, the focus is on clarity of direction and month three explores leadership presence and personal reflection. It is at this point, participants are introduced to mentors. In month four, focus is on awareness and the sharing of personal assessments, mentor sessions are introduced and work on personal resilience plan is organised. In month five, those involved examine resilient decision making and these planes are shared and personal impact statements are completed. Finally, in month six, there is an impact review and individual commitments are made.
Celebration with mentors is the order of the day and this entails how far participants have come. Participants honour their commitments and provide pertinent feedback.
Elements of Resilient Leaders are as follows:
1. Clarity of direction
2. Resilient decision making
3. Leadership presence
4. Awareness
All four elements converge together and overlap with each other. Awareness is an aspect that stands out as it entails being true to self, one’s values, and ethical code in the act of being in service to others.
Personal Impact Statements- What are they?
Personal Impact statements consist of their progress as leaders, towards their specific goals. Self-exploration is encouraged and added to the impact they have made both at home and at work and what they will do as a result. Questions like ‘What is my new goal?” and “What support and challenge do I need?” are asked.
Some participants were able to share their personal impact statements with conference attendees and they were riveting. It was amazing to see the insight and personal awareness shared just after six months of being in the programme.
Next Steps
Participants are given one year associate membership in SIGBI and continued mentorship. This Academy can become part of the Diamond Education Grant in the future.
If you would like to become a mentor for this leadership academy, you can contact Dishi Attwood, Director of Membership or send an email to SIGBI’s head office.
We do appreciate what was shared by the participants and wish them the best in their endeavours. It is hoped that after some time an evaluation is done to ascertain how successful the programme was for the participants. Consequently, gaps will be filled and programme enhanced. Congrats to all the awardees!