NOAA - Building Leaders in “BIG” Ways
Chris Smith
NOAA Fisheries Service
December 17, 2008 — Gwen Sanderlin, who works for the NOAA Fisheries Service Southeast Region’s Information Technology team, is in the midst of completing Blacks In Government’s Young Leadership Academy. YLA is a BIG National Program to foster excellence in leadership and develop professional and personal leadership skills. BIG and the USDA Graduate School have partnered to conduct and fund this highly interactive training. Sanderlin began the program in March 2008 and will complete it in December 2008 with a graduation ceremony in Washington, D.C.
Gwen Sanderlin.
Photo credit: NOAA.
“The need for continued growth prompted me to apply for the program. I’ve always strived to give more and to be a more effective employee during my 24-year federal tenure. Over the past two years, as a delegate to BIG’s Southeast Region, I’ve served in many roles,” said Sanderlin. “This program identifies potential leaders, provides them with leadership training, professional development opportunities, and strengthens communication skills. It’s a win–win situation for both NOAA and me.”
Through a series of intense professional training experiences, the program focuses on helping participants acquire the essential skills needed to be competent leaders. The program began with a confidential leadership effectiveness inventory, which made a 360-degree assessment of each participant to determine developmental needs.
Session objectives cover leadership values and vision, team building, reflective peer coaching for leaders, and much more. Each participant is assigned to a team whose leadership duties rotate monthly to enable each member to experience a variety of leadership roles. All assignments are accelerated and include preparing a leadership development plan, executive shadowing and reading assignments; a 30-day rotational assignment; and program impact papers.
According to Sanderlin, “It’s important to have a vision for the future. A compelling vision stirs passion. It tells everybody you work with who you are, where you are going, and what will drive your behavior.”
Sanderlin adds “It hasn’t been easy. However, if I hadn’t taken this step, I wouldn’t have experienced the career broadening events that I’ve had in my life today. I’m very humble to have been accepted in the program and more importantly, I’m proud to say I haven’t given up.”