2026 Culture Champion Academy Nominations Now Open
Nominations are open for the newest cohort of one of Georgia Tech Human Resources’ (GTHR) premier leadership academies.
GTHR’s Learning and Development team is excited to announce that the self-nomination period for the 2026 Culture Champion Academy will continue through Thursday, Jan. 22.
The Culture Champion Academy is offered to people leaders and program managers at Georgia Tech and features carefully curated content spanning multiple disciplines, focusing on neuroscience and practical leadership skills. Participants progress through the curriculum with a cohort of like-minded leaders, with whom they engage in interactive workshops and synthesize their learning.
The program nurtures and cultivates a growth mindset and builds skill sets to aid in successful people management, said Rayne Bozeman, director of Culture and Leadership Development and head of the 13-week Culture Champions program.
“We have a lot of smart and accomplished people at Tech. Most of them have never been given a space to reflect on their leadership story and what that means for how they show up for others,” Bozeman said. “They may have been told that emotions don’t belong in the workplace, and they’re running around burned out, lonely, and confused. We try to remedy that with great learning opportunities and a warm environment.”
Regina Anderson, an administrative manager in the School of Cybersecurity and Privacy, earned the title of Culture Champion earlier this year. Anderson said her experience taught her what “effective leadership” really means.
“What it took to become a Culture Champion was being honest with yourself. That honesty is essential to understanding exactly what aspects of yourself you’re bringing to the table and how it directly affects culture and relationship dynamics,” she said. “When I joined the program, I wasn’t sure what to expect. I assumed it would focus on the do’s and don’ts of leading people. I quickly realized, however, that it was far more about managing yourself before you can effectively lead others.”
Nominees accepted into the 2026 Culture Champions cohort will begin their curriculum in February and conclude in May. Click here to nominate yourself for the 2026 cohort.
Please note: Nominating yourself does not guarantee acceptance into the 2026 Culture Champions cohort. If you are not selected, you are still welcome to attend the opening and closing ceremonies as a guest.
— By Thomas Hartwell