For more than a decade, Human Resources has offered leadership programming to Queen’s staff and faculty. The programming aims to create more opportunities for employees to build networks across the institution and develop their individual leadership skills. Last year, more than 100 employees successfully completed and graduated from the leadership programs. 

“Engaging professional development opportunities such as these are crucial so that staff and faculty can unlock their potential, sharpen their skills, and address challenges with competence and confidence,” says Principal Patrick Deane. “By fostering meaningful growth and empowering individuals to participate in training that enhances their leadership abilities, we are promoting an organizational culture of encouragement, resiliency, creativity, and teamwork. This, in turn, drives us towards our own professional goals and towards our shared vision of excellence and success for Queen’s.”

The cohort programs are updated every year and are designed to support employees at every stage of their leadership journey.

This year, three programs are available, including:

• Exploring Leadership – designed for employees (especially staff, pre-tenured faculty, adjuncts, post-doctoral fellows) who are not in a people-leading role but are keen to understand their leadership potential at Queen’s.
• Emerging Leadership – tailored to provide new managers and people leaders (especially faculty, non-academic managers, team leads, supervisors) with practical tools, mentoring support, and resources they need to best perform in their roles. 
• Advancing Leadership – created to provide leaders (especially department heads, grad/undergrad coordinators, faculty, managers, directors) with the awareness, abilities, and confidence to lead teams and projects, at the departmental and institutional level.

Additional opportunities to build and develop management and leadership capacity will be available outside of the cohort programs including themed coffee chats and a Manager Learning Series. These sessions are available year-round and are open to any level of leader at the university. Program fees remain low to ensure critical learning and development opportunities are accessible for all employees.

Employees are encouraged to explore offerings, schedules, and registration on the HR Intranet and, with the support of their department, consider applying to a program that aligns with their goals and interests. Applications for all three leadership programs are open until Oct. 15, 2024, with programs running from December through June.