Sixty-two leaders have joined a group of more than 500 who have earned the title, “Culture Champions,” through the Inclusive Leaders Academy (ILA).  

Launched in 2017, ILA has continuously developed leaders who are emotionally intelligent and who build a workforce that harnesses each employee’s personal strengths. 

At the program’s ninth closing ceremony, cohort members heard stories of devastating loss, shocking admissions, new perspectives, and shattered ego from a panel of former and current cohort members – Susan Belmonte (Cohort 5), Micah Coleman (Cohort 9), Jasmine Miller (Cohort 8), and Karena Nguyen (Cohort 7). 

Rayne Bozeman, director of Culture and Leadership Development and ILA program director, said the program focused on the power of stories to provide new perspectives and challenge leaders to consider the experiences of their employees and peers in their work and decision making. 

“Our stories are so important to who we are. It gives us a glimpse into our past and that hindsight into how we got to the place where we got to,” Bozeman said. “Understanding the story of those with entirely different backgrounds than your own is an important part of leading thoughtfully and with empathy.” 

Miller echoed Belmonte’s sentiment, adding that often people leave who they truly are at home. But, she said, it’s impossible to achieve that separation 100 percent of the time. Leaders have to be able to adapt to their own challenges and remind those looking to them that it’s OK to do the same, Miller said.

“Through ILA, I realized that I’m a leader, and who I am follows me wherever I go,” Miller said. For her, that meant she had to practice a balance of work and well-deserved breaks. “You can say, ‘no.’ You can say, ‘I can’t do it today.’ You can put that PTO in. … The people that you’re passing that baton to are looking at what you do and how you handle things.”  

Cohort 9 members in the audience seemed to relate to the stories, nodding and smiling as the speakers shared their perspectives. Nzinga Benton, director of employee engagement and well-being, said the event was an effective reminder to continually self-reflect and grow. 

“Attending this event was truly inspiring. Hearing the stories of current and former attendees was not only motivating but also allowed me to reflect on my own journey,” Benton said. “It helped me draw meaningful connections between my personal story and my leadership approach, reinforcing who I am and how I lead.” 

Congratulations to the full list of Cohort 9 participants:

• Kristina Clement

• Malcolm Robinson

• Martella Matthews-Toussaint

• Martin Patrick

• Meenu Mukherji

• Melissa Scott

• Micah Coleman

• Milira Richardson

• Miriam Jackson

• Patrick Piddington

• Phu Le

• Preeti Sagar

• Quashavia Harper

• Regina Anderson

• Renee Jamieson

• Retonya Brinkley

• Rotthan Hinton

• S. Dante Christmas

• Savannah Muhammad

• Scarlett Earley

• Scott Nicholson

• Shari Hardaway

• Sharon Hamilton

• Sheneatria McDowell

• Sirocus Barnes

• Teresa Fosque

• Tomeika Rouse

• Tony Graddick

• Tonya Parker

• Trakia Bennett

• Valentina De La Fe