Executive Leadership Academy recruiting for second cohort in Pittsburgh

EVAN FRAZIER is co-founder of The Advanced Leadership Initiative, which sponsors the Executive Leadership Academy. (Photos by Brian Cook Sr.)

by Christian Morrow, Courier Staff Writer

Two years ago, The Advanced Leadership Initiative was still just an idea in Evan Frazier’s head. Two months ago, its Executive Leadership Academy at Carnegie Mellon University’s Tepper School of Business graduated its first class—and those 23 African American executives and managers are a big step closer to the C-Suite.

NICHELLE HUGHLEY, vice president, retail lending strategy and planning for PNC Bank, was one of 23 graduates of the first Executive Leadership Academy cohort, presented by The Advanced Leadership Initiative. (Photo by Courier photographer Brian Cook Sr.)

The idea—to build a pipeline of African American executives who could become CEOs or attain C-Suite Level positions at corporations in the Pittsburgh region—is now a reality.

“It’s exciting to see the dream come to fruition,” said Frazier, VP of community affairs for Highmark Health. “But this is just the beginning. Hopefully, it will build momentum and bring real impact—we know it’s been impactful for those who went through it.”

Robert Young, TALI managing director, said the impact was felt by some cohort members even before they “went through it.”

“Many in the cohort saw promotions during the course of the program,” he told the New Pittsburgh Courier. “So it shows there are African American executives that are on that pathway to the C-Suite and that this Academy is making that path more direct.”

DINA CLARK

Dina Clark, head of diversity and inclusion for Covestro LLC, was one of those in the first cohort and said the experience was “amazing.”

“The TALI executive program provided an unbelievable opportunity for executive support and coaching, as well as world-class educational experiences,” she said. “It was unlike any leadership experience I’ve had. The most important part of the experience for me was making priceless connections to other members of the cohort, which I continue to cherish.”

The first Academy class, announced in January, underwent eight two-day sessions which totaled more than 120 hours of instruction from renowned academic and industry experts.

Young and Frazier both gave credit for the program’s success to the enthusiasm of the cohort participants. That, combined with Tepper’s expertise and those of the program’s corporate mentors and executive coaches, led to what Young called “an overwhelming success.”

“That’s what sets it apart,” Young said. “The Tepper School allows us to be nimble, reactive to needs. And with the executive mentorship and executive coaching, the cohort was able to take technical information, use mentors as sounding boards and then implement it in the workplace. So there was an immediate return on investment. So we’re looking to carry that momentum into the 2020 cohort. We’re in the tail end of the recruiting process because the application deadline is Oct. 1. They start in January.”

GEORGE ROBINSON

The target applicant, Frazier said, is an African American at the vice president or senior manager level within their organization, with 10 years of professional experience, looking to advance.

“These are people who have senior roles and a lot of promise that we can help develop,” he said. “In the first cohort not only were there promotions, but people came out feeling more confident as leaders within their organizations, and in their ability to direct their careers. I’m very optimistic about building the pipeline of African American executive talent in the region. It’s fun, it’s a lot of hard work, but it’s important for the community and the region at-large.”

There is a $10,000 fee for each member to take part in the Academy, which on the corporate side is usually paid by the employer—showing they are invested in the participant’s success. Those coming from other sectors may have had some of the fee covered by participating foundations.

TYNINA ADAMS-LUCAS

Young said the buzz about the Academy is very positive, and helpful in recruiting the next cohort.

“Because of the momentum of the program over the last 12 months, we’ve seen a lot of interest from companies,” he said. “They’ve reached out to us, or to Tepper directly. It’s fantastic.”

In addition to Clark, the graduates of the first cohort were: Jessica L. Brooks; Angela N. Campbell; Alexis L. Clipper; Dr. Latika Davis-Jones; Marlon L. Ferguson; Eric L. Holmes; Nichelle Hughley; Lance Hyde; Robert A. James; Steffanie J. Jasper; Dr. Mashekia Jones-Slack; Taafoi S. Kamara; Robert L. Littles; Tynina Lucas; A. Kelly McCormick; Tracie Oliver McCormick; George E. Robinson II; Regina L. Scott; Martin Timothy Shephard; Michael D. Thomas; Pamela Jenee Wilbon; Vann L. Williams.

 

Like us at https://www.facebook.com/pages/New-Pittsburgh-Courier/143866755628836?ref=hl

Follow @NewPghCourier on Twitter  https://twitter.com/NewPghCourier

About Post Author

Comments

From the Web

Skip to content