In the Business of Transformation

“Many managers and executives are voicing their fears that the talent they have is not the talent they need,” states Jean B. Leslie, manager of product development research at the Center for Creative Leadership in Greensboro, N.C. “Businesses, government agencies, nonprofits and educational organizations need leaders who can effectively navigate complex, changing situations and get the job done. The questions that need to be asked at the organizational level are: who do we have, what do they need to do and are they equipped to do it?”  The Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina has taken on the task of answering these questions.

Current leadership skill gaps, as well as fears of gaps for the future, present opportunities and creative space to examine positive leadership and the processes by which strong, authentic and highly-skilled leaders are developed. It is critical that a new generation of positive leaders is prepared to lead in the 21st century and beyond. To facilitate this, we must provide leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to fill the leadership gaps for current leaders and to diminish fears regarding what emerging leaders are able to offer for the future.

 In the fall of 2010, a partnership with the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina’s Carolina Academy for Nonprofits and Columbia College was formed. As a result of the partnership, a graduate level Nonprofit Leadership Training Certificate program was developed and implemented. Following the inaugural year of the certificate program, a Nonprofit Leadership Development Program was created. Both leadership programs were designed for nonprofit leaders who were recognized as having great potential and who were ready to enhance their knowledge, skills and framework to lead nonprofit organizations in an ever-changing and diverse society.

Now after three cohorts of leadership certificate graduates and one cohort of leadership development graduates, The Foundation’s Carolina Academy for Nonprofits has become a leader in courageously charting a course of leadership education for nonprofit organizations in South Carolina. To date, 30 nonprofit leaders have emerged with greater knowledge, more confidence and increased capacity to lead in his/her organization. One graduate stated,

My experience as an Academy student has equipped me with an array of information, tools, and knowledge. I have gained a deepened understanding of, and appreciation for, interacting with agency stakeholders including co-workers, staff, administrators/board members, funders and other external partners. Establishing a set of best practices that can be used to improve agency processes has supported my goal of enhancing project design, implementation and partnerships. Most importantly, my Academy participation helped me to find my voice, and valuing the significance it brings. As a result, my passion has been reignited to improve the lives of my constituency.

As we begin our 2012-2013 cohorts of students, we do so with a certainty that we are doing our part to continue to answer the questions, “who do we have, what do they need to do and are they equipped to do it?” We are in the business of transformation and we are doing it one leader at a time.

Katrina Spigner is the senior program officer at the Sisters of Charity Foundation of South Carolina