Workplace Learning & Professional Development is pleased to welcome another ASPIRE cohort.
Launched in 2019, this signature program was developed to support Georgia Tech employees who are not currently in leadership positions but who want to learn what it takes to lead a team. Including the 2024 cohort, more than 200 aspiring leaders have participated in the program.
In August, the 2024 cohort kicked off with an event that challenged participants to think like a leader and empowered them to act as one.
“Supporting the development of our future leaders is more than a strategic initiative; it reflects our unwavering commitment to our collective future. By fostering their growth and cultivating their talents, we lay the foundation for the Institute’s ongoing success. Our vision for the future is shaped by our goals and those we empower to guide us forward,” said Skye Duckett, vice president and chief human resources officer for Georgia Tech.
The 2024 cohort includes 54 employees representing more than 30 departments across campus in various roles. You can view the full list of 2024 cohort members here.
The program is founded on the a concept that addresses the complexities associated with leading while also navigating four competing practices within an organization: collaborate, compete, control, and create. By combining instructor-led programming with self-directed and collaborative learning, participants emerge after four months with a well-rounded understanding of leadership practices. Forty hours of work are required over the program’s duration.
“Right from the start, the ASPIRE program challenged my idea of what a leader is and how to lead well. After completing the program, I better understand how to identify opportunities to apply and grow my leadership skills, and I have a whole suite of new approaches to problem solving that I can use in my everyday work,” said Michael Salter, senior contracting officer for Corporate & International Contracting.
Georgette Tonge, workforce admin specialist and graduate of the 2023 ASPIRE cohort, said the program started as a way to feed her curiosity and love for learning. But, she said, it became much more.
“Once I attended the classes, excelled in the challenges, and collaborated with new colleagues on campus, everything shifted,” Tonge said. “In the end, I gained so much more than expected.”
A key component of the program’s success is the support and collaboration of the participants’ supervisor, or “co-learner,” as they are known during the program. ASPIRE’s discussion points and learning prompts guide the supervisor’s coaching and help them identify opportunities to deepen their leadership practices during day-to-day responsibilities, increasing their effectiveness as a leader.
Carly Bloomingdale, director of programs at the Student and Campus Event Centers, said she began ASPIRE in 2023 as a co-learner with one of her team members. Bloomingdale loved that she continued to be included with updates on what her team member learned in ongoing cohort work.
“It meant I could talk with my team member about the topics and ideas discussed in their sessions without missing a beat,” Bloomingdale said. “I enjoyed my experience as a co-learner, because I got to be an active participant in my team member’s growth and development through the program. I felt like I could learn about their self-development even more than I typically could through other professional development programs and conference opportunities.”
Upon completion of the course requirements, participants emerge with a better understanding of their professional strengths and how they can lead from their current role. And most importantly, they are prepared to take on new responsibilities.
“We’ve seen the power this program has to positively impact culture within the Georgia Tech community and are excited to witness the potential of this new 2024 cohort unfold as they cultivate their leadership mindset through ASPIRE,” said LaTrese Ferguson, director of Workplace Learning & Professional Development.
April Monger, a custodian II in Georgia Tech Housing, said ASPIRE has been a life-changing experience and one that she will cherish.
“Being in a room with people of all job titles and education levels, all focused on becoming the change they want to see in their departments, in their own lives and in their communities – that’s rare,” Monger said. “That is one of the most amazing things about this program: all the lessons you learn and the conversations that helped you become the leader you’re striving to be in all areas of your life.”
At the close of the program and upon completion of all its requirements, participants are celebrated at a closing ceremony.
To learn more about the ASPIRE program, including submitting interest to join a future cohort, visit pe.gatech.edu/programs/aspire.