Edwards Leadership Development Government Program marks fortieth offering

Natasha Katchuk

Three times a year, Saskatchewan Public Services leaders join the Edwards Executive Education team to learn from each other and work with seasoned industry professionals.

Edwards works closely with the business community to bring a balanced combination of academic and hands-on experience into the classroom.

At the core is a dedicated group of educators including Noreen Mahoney and Brooke Klassen, Edwards School of Business faculty, and industry practitioners Rachelle Brockman, Brent Pederson, Penelope Popp and Leah Reid.

Laura Hunter Executive Director, Talent at the Government of SaskatchewanNow in its fortieth offering, the Leadership Development Program (LDP) is a five-day highly interactive and experiential program intended for team leaders, supervisors, and managers who have direct reports.

Laura Hunter, Executive Director, Talent at the Government of Saskatchewan took the program in 2018, and said she was deeply appreciative of the investment from the Saskatchewan Public Service and immersed herself in the program.

"The Leadership Development Program has had a lasting impact and I continue to use the concepts within the program improving both my personal and professional life," shared Hunter.

It is well-suited to supervisors and managers with less than five years of leadership experience and the primary objective is to build capacity and enhance leadership potential.

Noreen Mahoney, Associate Dean and Director of Executive Education"Participants join us from all sectors of government, and it is a great opportunity to collaborate and share best practices and key learnings," said Associate Dean and Director of Executive Education, Noreen Mahoney. "The individual coaching allows an opportunity to apply the lessons learned in LDP to a current challenge or opportunity."

Central to the program is five behaviours identified as critical for effective leadership by international bestselling authors Jim Kouzes and Barry Posner. Participants cover topics like developing a leadership style, leading change, building high performance teams, and how to approach coaching and offering feedback.

"I fully engaged across the workshops, challenged myself to optimize the value of the learning in action and feel both leadership and followership was improved through greater understanding of self and impact on others," remarked Hunter.

For those interested in furthering their leadership capacity in a highly interactive learning environment, Mahoney encourages employers and individuals to consider the Leadership Development Program offered by Edwards Executive Education.

"The Leadership Development Program is an opportunity for leaders to step away from their hectic daily roles and elevate their professional skills," said Mahoney. "The most common feedback from LDP participants is a renewed sense of purpose and commitment after the sessions."

For more information on upcoming sessions and funding eligibility please visit the Leadership Development Program page.

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