The second Women’s Leadership Forum at the University of Delaware’s Alfred Lerner College of Business and Economics starts on Thursday, Oct. 12. Visit the Lerner College website for more information or to register now.

The mission of the Women’s Leadership Forum is to help talented women achieve their aspirations in the C-suite, as entrepreneurs and in leadership positions.

Members of the forum’s first cohort of participants, such as Kei-Shanda D. Saddler, said that the forum in the spring went above and beyond this goal, creating a community of support, encouragement and guidance.

“Being a part of the Leadership Forum has had such a profound impact on me personally and professionally,” Saddler, who works for the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, wrote in a letter to fellow participants. “It was within this Leadership Forum that I unveiled who my best self was [and] found my voice.

“Because of the Leadership Forum, I am now able to assert myself in a way that allows my authentic personality to shine through,” Saddler continued. “I could not have accomplished this without all of you phenomenal facilitators and women. I am now on track and reaching for the stars.”

Fellow cohort member Ginger Victoria of Barclaycard US added, “This program has allowed me for the first time to know and understand my personal and professional brand and seek the opportunities to achieve it!”

During their time on UD’s campus, Saddler, Victoria and the rest of the cohort developed their leadership brands, implemented personal action plans, participated in one-on-one executive coaching and self assessment, built relationships through networking and more under the guidance of program creators Wendy Smith, Amanda Bullough and Barbara Roche.

To these program leaders, Saddler wrote, “It is clearly evident that what you do is not just a job but an unequivocal passion to give back to deserving and unique women. Please continue to be a profound impact in the lives of all the current and future women you will encounter. You have definitely made one in mine.”

Smith, an associate professor of management, said that she was gratified by the first cohort’s final days in the program, as participants shared with the group their intentions for future leadership roles and adventures.

“As I watched their confidence and conviction grow, I knew we succeeded in creating a powerful program and supportive community that will unleash strong, creative female leadership,” Smith said. “I am sure that these leaders will make the world a better place, and honored to be part of that process." 

Bullough, an assistant professor of management, added, “This inaugural cohort was even more successful than we could have imagined. The cohesion among participants and instructors was stronger than any program I’ve been involved with before.”

George Irvine, Lerner College director of corporate programs and partnerships, said that this new program “addresses the need in our region for a high-quality, research-based women’s leadership development program which adds value to organizations’ in-house leadership programming.

“We’re pleased to share our faculty’s knowledge through this engaging and challenging executive education program,” Irvine said.