What is it like to participate in CLDP?  

“CLDP is a really good program for people who are looking at being more involved in their community,” shared Sofiyyah Kelani, 2023-24 program alumna. “It’s a very easy way to get started – you get support, mentorship, and a space to explore what community means to you and how to make a difference, no matter how small you think it is.”

As part of CLDP, Sofiyyah’s team hosted the International Health Hub Huddle, which helped international students learn more about their health care coverage and gain confidence in accessing their benefits. In leading her team, Sofiyyah was able to grow in her leadership and planning skills, begin thinking in a more community-oriented way, and become a better communicator on both personal and professional levels, all while getting to know more about herself.

Meet the CLDP facilitator

The Community Leadership Development Program is facilitated by Maddi Reed, a queer and neurodivergent staff member whose intersectional identity led them to a passion for women’s rights, reproductive justice, and queer rights. Maddi brings experience in planning and implementing events, and hopes to address the significant gap in supports on-campus for students who want to hold student-led events.

“This upcoming year, I am most excited to see idea generation and implementation come directly from students for students,” shared Maddi. “I look forward to learning alongside the student teams to discover what the best version of their events looks like.”

What does it entail?

Applications for the summer intake will open on June 2, 2025, at 9:30am. Student teams of three or more will apply for the Grow Your Community Fund, proposing a project that meets an identified need in their community. Successful student teams will receive funding, mentorship, and training in community-building for marginalized, minoritized, and underrepresented student communities on campus through weekly meetings.

Program Timeline

For student teams applying for the summer intake, keep the following dates in mind:

• June 2 – applications open
• June 5, June 8, June 17 – optional GYCF Idea Generation and Grant Writing workshops
• June 22 – applications close
• July 7 – student teams are notified
• July 17 – August 21 – required weekly Thursday evening training sessions
• September – proposal implementation starts!

For more information on the eligibility criteria, the selection process and how to apply visit the Grow Your Community Fund webpage.

PSLP is an annual, cohort-based program that selects students across disciplines and backgrounds from UM as well as the other major Manitoba postsecondary institutions: University College of the North, the University of Winnipeg, Red River College Polytech, Université de Saint-Boniface, and Brandon University.

The program currently seeks the latest cohort of changemakers and innovators across disciplines and at any level of post-secondary study. Students with existing leadership impact and experience, formal or informal, are invited to apply by March 9, 2025.

Successful applicants join a cohort of peers to participate in a core week of workshops, site visits, and leader talks in June 2025. Participants then plan and complete a summer service leadership project in diverse teams, continue the program in the fall with two dedicated days of workshops, and participate in a field trip to northern Manitoba in winter 2026.

The program is supported by a network of senior leaders from different sectors who participate as one-on-one mentors to PSLP fellows for the year. Concluding each year with a graduation celebration, PSLP has seen many graduates go on to lead in their careers and communities in any field.

Applications for the seventh cohort of the President’s Student Leadership Program are now open. Learn more about this immersive and inclusive leadership opportunity today, and read more about the most recent community projects below.

Leadership shaped by community

This summer and fall, the sixth and current cohort of PSLP fellows worked with community organizations to advance initiatives including access to official ID for newcomers, engagement with Indigenous teachings for international students, a fundraising strategy for non-profits, and a food security information program for the elderly.

“The summer projects help build our PSLP fellows’ connection to their communities and leadership commitment, regardless of what profession or field they will go into,” said Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, Director of the Burns Leadership Institute and Associate Dean of Research at the Asper School of Business.

The sixth cohort of the program completed the following community projects:

Paint Your Teachings

Mackenzie Ferguson, Jory Thomas-Blanchard, Olamide Collins-Longe, and Alejandra Diabb Sanchez devised “Paint Your Teachings,” a paint night dedicated to the seven sacred Indigenous teachings. Hosted by the UM International Centre, the team conceived of and facilitated the event in partnership with Nancy Hamilton, a Knowledge Keeper.

Participants gathered to learn about Indigenous culture and beliefs while expressing their talents through art. After Hamilton guided them through the seven sacred teachings, participants were prompted to paint these teachings on rocks. As the workshop continued, they were encouraged to continue sharing their learning and the values that resonated most with them, bringing teachings to their communities.

Collins-Longe reflects on the impact of the project. “Our community project taught me the importance and power of communication and community, knowing when to step in and when to step back,” she said. Expanding on the impact of PSLP as a whole, Collins-Longe shares that the program “shifted my perspective on life and leadership.”

Identifying Boundaries

Oluwafemi Awopegba, Logan Basarowich, Madison Bonnefoy, and Kiera Butterfield’s project “Identifying Boundaries,” worked to lessen the barriers of obtaining identification for newcomers.

Working with community organizations NEEDS Inc, SEED Winnipeg, and the Me-Dian Credit Union, the group focused on the MPI Identification Card and the Social Insurance Number card. They determined that the most impact could be made by reducing financial and language barriers to accessing these important IDs.

In their project summary, the team writes, “by listening to the communities, we were able to reduce the gaps of access and help newcomers in Winnipeg with their pursuit of a happy life.”

Together, they created a step-by-step guide of how to obtain these forms of ID and translated these guides from English into Tigrinya, Arabic, and Ukrainian with support from the Ethiopian Society of Winnipeg, Islamic Social Services Association Inc, and Ukrainian community members.

KidSport Storybank

Laura Effinger, Craig Hillier, and Faye Vaquilar completed a project with KidSport Manitoba to help increase fundraising and marketing efforts. They created a Manitoba KidSport storybank to collect impactful stories and testimonials to inspire and engage the community in fundraising and marketing matierals.

The team developed a blueprint for listening generously and capturing KidSport family stories. To help build this competency and resource, they emphasized strengthening connections with KidSport members and staff through engaging events and staying flexible with both phone and in-person interviews with stakeholders and community members.

Rising Together through Story

Halem Hrizai, Noor Imran, Tobi Olanipekun, and Kezia Wong worked on a community project called “Rising Together through Story.” This storytelling workshop, in partnership with Newcomer Employment and Educational Development Services (NEEDS), aimed to help NEEDS students feel empowered to share their backgrounds, connect with their peers, and deepen their sense of belonging.

The workshop comprised two interactive, art-based activities that asked students to share the story of their name and reflect on what makes them feel at home. To ensure this workshop could be offered by others in the future, the group prepared a manual for NEEDS that outlines activity instructions and further recommendations for facilitators.

Mission Possible

Kelly Laybolt, Briana Oliver, Erin Sinclair, and Tooba Razi devised a community project that aims to address food insecurity among older adults (55+) in Manitoba. They partnered with Norwest Co-op Community Health and created a comprehensive, accessible resource pamphlet that lists local food programs and services.

Laybolt explains that despite the simplicity of the solution, the impact and learning were significant for this project. “It is important to listen to the needs of your target group. Had we approached our stakeholder with a completed plan and remained married to that idea, our leadership project would have been ineffective,” he says.

Through meaningful conversation and reflection, the team executed on a clear, targeted project to help centralize information about food resources to community members in need.

Fantastic Four Community Cookbook

Jenel James, Sahil Lekhi, Ayushi Pattharwala, and Ariel Wilcox worked together to create a cookbook that showcases a diverse collection of healthy, affordable, and simple recipes, all contributed by members of Manitoba’s immigrant communities. In addition to recipes, the cookbook provides practical resources for newcomers, including tips on navigating local food marketing, understanding nutritional labels, and making sustainable food choices.

The group is excited to continue this culinary work with a cooking class in collaboration with the Immigrant Centre that features contributors from the book.

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Housed at the Asper School of Business, the James W. Burns Leadership Institute at UM has been shaping the next generation of leaders through this flagship program since 2019. Learn more about PSLP, Manitoba’s premier postsecondary leadership program, today.

Student leadership can help you flourish, both personally and professionally! The range of skills you can develop is as wide as the variety of opportunities for leadership on campus. Here’s just a few examples…

Social connections and communication skills

In a leadership position, you get to meet and develop relationships with a variety of folks at UM! If you get involved with your department’s student group, for instance, you’ll find yourself getting to know your cohort of peers much better. Or, in an interest-based group, you’ll get to forge connections across departments and faculties, with students you might’ve never run into in a classroom setting. More connections means more opportunities to develop communication skills! Over time, you’ll find that you can write email messages or approach people in-person more confidently.

Conflict management and diplomacy

For a student leader, every bump in the road is an opportunity to learn. As club executives, for instance, leaders have to learn how to delegate responsibilities and explain duties in a respectful way. Conflicts can be uncomfortable, but you’ll learn crucial skills like how to de-escalate arguments, or when to seek advice and mediation.

Creativity and problem-solving

Being a student leader often involves coming up with novel ideas to fit specific circumstances! You might find yourself brainstorming ideas for a student event or improvising when plans fall through.

Financial literacy

Many leadership positions involve handling or planning around money. If you were a treasurer, for instance, you would learn how an organisation holds its funds, handle transfers, or design budgets!

Time-management skills

Leaders have to manage their own schedules in different ways – sometimes, they have to manage schedules for others and big groups, too! Whatever kind of position you find yourself in, you’ll learn how to balance your academics with your extracurricular activities and whatever else takes up time in your life. You might also find yourself planning event or meeting times and learning how to balance different peoples’ needs.

Once you get involved, you’ll notice these skillsets enhancing your personal life, academics, and career. Just like you get credit for the skills and knowledge you gain in your classes, you can get credit for your leadership involvement, too! The Experience Record is a digital resource that tracks your involvement in recognised activities outside of the classroom – like an academic transcript, but for all different kinds of opportunities! Instead of just adding new bullet-point to your resume, you can show future employers or admissions offices a verified record of your involvement at UM.

Learn more about accessing and adding to your record on the Experience Record page of the UM website or view your current record through UM Connect. If you’re wondering where to start, check out our recent article about how Student Experience and Development can point you in the right direction [hyperlink when available], or browse the Experience Catalogue for current opportunities. Still have questions? Reach out to ExperienceRecord@umanitoba.ca!

SEAD’s goal is to help connect students with the right people and places to get more involved in the UM community. Often, students limit themselves to academics and miss out on the enormous variety of experiences that can help them develop in all areas of their lives. When students think of leadership on campus, they usually think of executive roles in student groups, but that’s only one example. Geoffrey Pagcaliwagan, a coordinator at SEAD, is encouraging more students to get involved and rethink what “leadership” means to them. “How I see it is that leadership shouldn’t be associated with a position. It should be kind of like a set of practices that you do.”

One of SEAD’s pillars is to be a centre of knowledge about the opportunities for involvement across UM so that any student can come in and be pointed in the right direction. Whether you have specific ideas or don’t know where to start, SEAD can suggest resources and groups on campus to meet your interests and needs. These opportunities could include participation in student clubs and associations, volunteering, one-off workshops, or a workshop series. Groups and workshops can centre around a variety of topics, from academic programs to wellness and cultural identity.

Pagcaliwagan emphasises how SEAD can help create a “customised” experience for students, based on the different routes students can take to get involved and the different levels of commitment. “I think of it as kind of like a spectrum,” he says. “There are many alternatives to achieving the same thing […] It doesn’t necessarily have to be like one hundred hours or zero. It could be like two hours, and then if you find that enjoyable, it can be another two hours.”

One of the programs SEAD offers to help students on an individual level is Peer Involvement Advising. You can set up a one-on-one appointment to discuss your unique interests and goals for getting involved in leadership. Tyler Big George is a Peer Involvement Advisor and explains what advising can look like: “So, the typical appointment if a student doesn’t exactly know what they’re looking for will be me showing them the different resources to help them get involved […] and I’ll talk to them about why those are important.” What are those resources? Big George highlights the Experience Catalogue, where you can find a list of student groups to join; the Experience Record, where you can track your previous involvement at U of M; and different student group pages online, such as those on social media.

Have you considered getting involved in new experiences and leadership roles in university? Get in contact with SEAD! There are a few ways they could lend you a hand. If you haven’t visited Student Affairs’ new Connection Desk on the first floor of UMSU University Centre, check it out and they can get you connected with SEAD! Alternatively, you can email the office directly at sead@umanitoba.ca, or visit their office at 225 UMSU University Centre. Want to know more first? Check out the main SEAD website or the Peer Involvement Advising page.

Walker [MBA/94], who received the Order of Manitoba in 2024 in recognition of her championing of “an inclusive and thriving city where no one is left behind,” brings to this role her extensive senior leadership experience in the not-for-profit and public sectors, her unique career journey, and her drive to create connections to inspire purpose-driven leadership here in Manitoba.

The LIR helps to foster connections between the Burns Institute, the University and the private, public, and not-for-profit sectors, serving as a link to the wider community. The role involves working collaboratively to provide input on critical leadership topics for UM students across disciplines, collaborating on leadership workshops, recruiting guest speakers, and developing networks among students and community leaders. The LIR also sits as an ex-officio member of the Burns Institute Advisory Board.

For Walker, this role—a nexus between the business, government, non-profit and academic communities—felt like a perfect continuation of her leadership journey following her retirement as President and CEO of United Way Winnipeg (UWW, 2014-2023).

“United Way Winnipeg (UWW) sits in the space between sectors—you’re working with the private sector, community agencies, government and labour to make a positive difference in the community we all love. The Burns LIR role seemed a way to bring some of those relationships and our shared responsibility to build a better community, to the School, and the students.”

As LIR, Walker will also work with the Burns Institute’s flagship program, the President’s Student Leadership Program (PSLP), assisting current PSLP fellows and alumni with continuous leadership development through community connections and engagement.

During her time as CEO of UWW, Walker welcomed multiple cohorts of the PSLP for site visits, sharing her leadership journey and the work of UWW with PSLP’s diverse student leaders, fostering the unique leadership learning the fellowship program provides.

Walker began her own leadership journey as a public health nurse, which offered the opportunity to meet remarkable Winnipeggers facing significant barriers. “I was welcomed into people’s homes – and sometimes my clients had no home. They taught me about what equity and inclusion really mean, and I’m very grateful for it,” she says.

This journey took an important turn when she began her MBA at the Asper School of Business. She recounts learning about finance, organizational behaviour, business strategy, and more, and just as important, she learned to be in teams where members had diverse backgrounds and experiences. Walker says she learned to think more broadly and to situate her leadership style in curiosity and connection.

“When we are curious, we have less judgment. We’re more open to ideas. We see dots to connect and opportunities we may otherwise have missed. We’re more creative and more inspired. At the root is the capacity to connect with people, including those who may be very different from us. The MBA program fostered this for me,” she says.

After completing her MBA, Walker worked as an Audit Manager at the City of Winnipeg and, for ten years after that, led a strategic planning team in the CAO’s office.

Returning to the community in a role with UWW felt full circle to her. “Working at UWW was the greatest privilege of my career,” Walker says.

She hopes to work with the Institute to inspire strong connections to the broader community knowing that our province (and the world), needs leaders who are inspired to make a difference and who actively bring their talents to the table to do so.

“In Manitoba, we have and need great leaders. In this role, I hope to emphasize our responsibility as leaders to create the city and province we all want for our kids and grandkids. We all need to be involved.’

“I see the potential in this community, and I want us to reach it. I am so excited about the next generation of leaders. I consider it an honour to share experiences and advice – and to learn from them!”

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The Burns Leadership Institute at the University of Manitoba was created through a visionary endowment from the Power Corporation of Canada, Canada Life, and IG Wealth Management. It is housed at the Asper School of Business and supports leadership education across faculties. Learn more about the Institute and leadership programming here.

With the Asper MBA, Connie Walker went from public health nurse to auditor to CEO. The Asper MBA program is designed to meet the market-driven needs of today’s industry professionals. With one of the most flexible and adaptable programs in Canada, the Asper MBA is designed to help students build their leadership skills in any field. Learn more here.

Twenty-two graduates received their certificates and joined the PSLP community of leaders making a difference in sectors from healthcare and technology to the arts, law and business. The event feted the now 113-strong contingent of PSLP alumni, and celebrated five years of immersive, interdisciplinary leadership education.

Unique in Canada, PSLP is the flagship program of the James W. Burns Leadership Institute, led by Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, Associate Dean and Canada Life Chair in Leadership Education at the Asper School of Business.

Each year, PSLP selects a cohort of students from across faculties, post-secondary institutions, interests and backgrounds to build their leadership potential. Participants have notable leadership experience already, serving in their communities, faculties, sports or elsewhere. The program is funded through a fellowship for participants, thanks to a visionary investment from Canada Life, IG Wealth Management and the Power Corporation of Canada, as well as the Province of Manitoba. Distinguished guests Paul Mahon [BComm(Hons)/86], President and Chief Executive Officer of Great-West Lifeco and of Canada Life and Renée Cable, Minister of Advanced Education and Training attended this year’s event to celebrate its five years of success.

Advisory Board Member Charles Henaire [BComm(Hons)/88] attended the graduation and anniversary celebration and articulated the Advisory Board’s vision for the program.

“When PSLP was envisioned, the idea was to continue to develop future leaders from Manitoba who would go out into our communities and beyond, to make a positive impact in their chosen fields. The opportunities and challenges facing our society are complex, and there is a tremendous need for leaders to help shape our future,” said Henaire, Deputy CFO and Chief Accounting & Control Officer at Great-West Lifeco.

PSLP is delivering on its vision as the program boasts diverse and influential alumni across many sectors.

Kevin Boreskie

A first-year emergency medicine resident, PSLP alumni Kevin Boreskie is completing a PhD in Applied Health Sciences at UM. As he describes it, PSLP unites students and leaders, highlighting the immeasurable impact of diverse, but interdependent, leadership skills.

“Through PSLP, I saw how the community leaders we met with through the program had incredible skill sets that made them effective leaders, but that these skill sets weren’t necessarily the same. What they had in common was passion for addressing a problem,” he says.

PSLP taps into students’ own drive to solve problems and serve their communities. This passion transcends institutions and occupations, and PSLP invites students from across Manitoba to connect with a network of committed peers.

Amy Jackson

PSLP alumna Amy Jackson notes that learning from others allowed her to reflect on the value of her own unique point of view.

Jackson received her Bachelor of Arts in History and Indigenous Studies from UCN. “Participating in PSLP boosted my confidence in valuing my unique perspective as an Indigenous woman from northern Manitoba. It has also broadened my mindset by exposing me to various ways of thinking,” she notes.

PSLP is designed as an inclusive program, teaching participants that effective leadership positively impacts communities, and that valuing diversity is central to healthy communities and competent leadership.

Kathleen Murphy

Kathleen Murphy is graduating from RRC’s Business Administration program and holds a Post-Bacc in Vocal Performance and a Bachelor of Music from UM. They explain how PSLP has improved their ability to lead in 2SLGBTQIA+ initiatives like the Rainbow Harmony Project.

“PSLP has been instrumental in building my confidence, refining my public speaking and defining my values as a leader. I am passionate about leveraging my leadership education to build inclusive spaces, empower people to raise their voices and form meaningful connections in service to others,” they say.

Community initiatives are included in the program pedagogy, with students working in groups to complete a hands-on service leadership project.

Jude Obidiagha

A senior policy analyst with the Government of Manitoba, Jude Obidiagha completed PSLP while pursuing his master’s in applied economics at UW. Obidiagha worked with fellow students on an Indigenous Newcomer Workshop, designed to build relationships between different communities and raise awareness about Indigenous culture among newcomers in Winnipeg.

“Through this community project with fellow young leaders in my cohort, I developed the skill of working with other passionate peers while cultivating leadership skills like empathy, active listening and collaboration,” he says.

Mentorship is in PSLP’s DNA, as students learn from dedicated faculty, experienced business, government and non-profit leaders, and their own cohort.

Reanna Merasty

Reanna Merasty was pursuing her Master of Architecture at UM while in PSLP, and is now architectural intern with Number TEN architecture Group. She describes her biggest takeaway from PSLP. “What stuck with me was the value of collaborative leadership, where we are not leading on an “I” but with an “us.” Collaborative leadership means using the strengths of others to achieve a shared goal.”

PSLP redefines leadership, giving students the skills they need to lead and succeed while reaffirming that effective leadership is often more collaborative than individual, more collective than self-serving, more dynamic than stagnant.

The vision for PSLP began as a desire to build on the leadership ethos that the donors saw in Manitoba, and to create new knowledge, relationships and experiences that would stay with and guide the participants as they entered their careers. Director Gagnon expresses how the program has lived up to that vision.

”We are extremely proud of these five cohorts of PSLP fellows and the hard work and care they put into participating in this program. We have seen many flourish with new activities in the community new positions in their fields, in academic work, government and, in industry. With the sixth cohort soon to begin the program, we look forward to continuing to create strong collective capacity that will help them to tackle the tough problems and create opportunities for the future.”

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Housed at the Asper School of Business, at the University of Manitoba, the President’s Student Leadership Program selects a cohort of students from across faculties, post-secondary institutions, interests, backgrounds and regions of the province to build their leadership potential.

Visit the PSLP website for full program details.

Successful applicants will join a cohort of peers to participate in a core week of workshops, site visits and leader talks in June 2024. Participants then complete a summer service leadership project in interdisciplinary teams, continue the program in the fall and take a trip to northern Manitoba in winter 2025. The program concludes with a graduation celebration. Participants also have an opportunity for individual mentoring with a senior leader from the community.

Housed at the Asper School of Business, the James W. Burns Leadership Institute at UM has been shaping the next generation of leaders through this flagship program since 2019. Students learn from senior leaders in different sectors, from non-profit, business and government to healthcare and technology. Program workshops teach from multiple perspectives, discussing leadership purpose, collaboration, conflict resolution, dialogue and negotiation, while students learn from their peers, deepening their knowledge and broadening their reach as future leaders.

Cohort 5 Visits The Pas, Manitoba

This February, the students of cohort five travelled to The Pas and Opaskwayak Cree Nation (OCN) to learn from Indigenous and community leaders in the North. The students met with distinguished leaders including Edwin Jebb, UCN Chancellor and OCN Band Counselor; Maureen Brown Onekanew (Chief) of OCN; Minister Judy Mayer, Vice President Manitoba Métis Federation, The Pas Region; and Doug Lauvstad, President and Vice Chancellor of UCN.

An inspiring panel with community youth leaders rounded out the visit, along with cultural activities. Panel members shared their personal experiences, life stories and current goals. The panel comprised Ashley Moore, Chief Executive Officer at Kíwétin Environmental Consulting Ltd; Gloria Packo, 2023 Northern Manitoba Trappers’ Festival Fur Queen and entrepreneur; Savanna Henderson, OCN Councillor and entrepreneur; and Desarae Lambert, Executive Director at The Pas Community Renewal Corporation.

While in The Pas, PSLP was hosted by Dr. Dan Smith, Vice-President of Strategic Growth at UCN and Burns Leadership Institute Advisory Board member. The trip exemplifies PSLP’s pan-provincial mandate, exposing participants to experiences of leading, living, working, and bringing change in Manitoba.

Said Dr. Suzanne Gagnon, PSLP program professor and director of the Burns Leadership Institute,

“Being in their community and learning directly from these leaders was an incredible opportunity for our PSLP students. They see how leadership contributes to reconciliation and how, in detail, the actions of leaders at all levels are bringing lasting change. This knowledge is critical to the understanding and capacity of any emerging leader preparing to serve in Manitoba and beyond.”

PSLP participant and UM Master of Sociology student Mehraz Sarker comments on the impact of the program.

“This experience has significantly contributed to my personal growth, leadership, and cross-cultural understanding. We extend immense gratitude to our hosts, partners, and all the leaders involved for their amazing support in nurturing us as future leaders.”

Justin Hiebert, Diploma in Business Administration (Marketing) student at RRC, added, 

“Having the opportunity to go to The Pas and meet leaders of the community was an incredible and humbling experience. I was able to grow and really see a new perspective through a different lens that I normally do not see. This will allow me to strengthen my leadership abilities in my future.”

Apply Today

Visit the PSLP website for full program details, eligibility criteria and instructions on how to apply. If you see yourself in the criteria for selection, we encourage your application!

PSLP cohort 5 catching the northern lights in The Pas.

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The Burns Leadership Institute was launched at UM in 2019, funded through a visionary investment by Power Corporation of Canada, Canada Life, IG Wealth Management and the Province of Manitoba.

What is your vision for the Faculty of Graduate Studies?

My vision is to help facilitate the dream of graduate education. We want to have the kind of program that faculty members and units dream of having and supporting, and also the kind of programs that students dream of taking as part of their career pursuits and interests. I want to be able to support that vision for everyone.

What do you like to do in your down time?

I like to curl up on the couch with a good book. I also enjoy watching my kids play their sports.

What kind of books do you read?

Anything! I will read biographies, mysteries, as well as academic books.  Currently I am reading “Cheating Academic Integrity: Lessons from 30 years of research”.

Do you have a favourite television show?

Not really. I recently watched “Three’s Company” (a sitcom series that ran from 1977- 84) with my kids, which was fun as they like the physical comedy.  We also like “Murdoch Mysteries” on CBC, which is a detective series set back in time.

Where is your Happy Place and why?

My Happy Place would probably be my back deck because it is relaxing. I can grab a lemonade and a book, and sit in the shade and listen to the birds.

What’s something that readers would be surprised to learn about you?

I sang in a jazz choir when I was in high school.

What person or event has shaped you as a person or in your career?

One influential time was as an undergraduate student, when I was asked to be a teaching assistant for a class that I had just finished. The job had me in front of a lab helping students, and that was probably the first time I understood that I could possibly be a university professor as a career.

What’s one piece of advice you have for students?

One piece of advice would be: Have perseverance. If you’ve identified a dream that you have, try to find the path that gets you to your goal of what you want to pursue for the rest of your life. It is not always a direct path; you may take a couple of turns along the way, and that’s ok. The various skills learnt along the way are all valuable, not only the specific content related to your chosen career. 

“It is important that our institution, as a large employer, create a working environment that supports employees to be motivated and encouraged to pursue a meaningful career at the university,” says Darlene Smith, Associate Vice-President, Human Resources.

The UM LEAD program is designed to equip our leaders with the knowledge and skills to be supportive, effective and inspirational in their role.

Providing a learning program that is relevant to current leaders is of critical importance and is part of the broader efforts of Human Resources to support development and capacity building, adds Smith.

Funded by Human Resources, the program is open to applications from a wide range of leaders.

Developing UM leaders by supporting them in their work

Leaders inspire, influence, and encourage the work of others, playing an integral role in the success of our institution. The UM LEAD certificate program in university leadership is offered by Human Resources as part of a commitment to providing leaders with a collaborative learning space to develop in their current, or future role at UM.

“People in leadership roles carry special responsibilities and this program provides a collaborative learning space for those who lead teams or projects, or who are leading by influence,” says Sandra Woloschuk, Associate Director, Learning and Organizational Development.

“UM LEAD is designed to meet the needs of our community and offers a solid foundation of learning and experience in leadership best practices,” she says.

The purpose of the program is to provide knowledge and skills in both general leadership practices and in key areas of university administration.

UM LEAD program overview

The program launches in August 2022 and includes eight learning days and several special features including the individual DiSC: Work of Leaders profile; one-on-one executive coaching; experiential exercises in leadership; a self-directed learning project; group coaching on leadership topics; peer networking; and workshop modules on core university structures, values, priorities and processes delivered by subject matter and area experts.

UM LEAD uses a cohort model where participants begin and complete the program as an intact group. While the program is comprehensive, the time commitment is reasonable and participants attend an orientation and three-day residency, along with five full learning days. At the end of the course, participants give a capstone presentation to a panel.

The certificate program is completed over eight months.

How to apply

Applications for the 2022-2023 cohort are due June 1.

All applicants must fill out the UM LEAD application form.

More information can be found on the UM LEAD certificate program UM Intranet page.

Program contact: Sandra Woloschuk, Associate Director, Learning & Organizational Development sandra.woloschuk@umanitoba.ca

Lianne Lagasse

“ Manitoba Hydro always has the future in sight. Since 2009, we have sent over 250 employees to the Advanced Program in Management, Leadership, and Strategy to prepare them to take on new leadership roles and responsibilities within the corporation. Graduates of the program have gained a richer perspective on the vision and decisions that drive our business, a comprehensive understanding of high-level strategic planning, and tools that have helped them become more effective leaders immediately.” 
– Lianne Lagasse, Manitoba Hydro

Sky Bridges

“The [Advanced Program in Management, Leadership & Strategy] allowed me to absorb the material quickly, efficiently and in an engaged environment. It is a must for companies looking to enhance their staff and company with a strategic mindset. ”  
– Sky Bridges, Chief Operating Officer, Aboriginal Peoples Television Network 

Mike Bayes

“I am very grateful that I was given the opportunity to participate in the Advanced Program in Management, Leadership and Strategy at the Asper Executive Education Centre. I met many great people and instructors during the program and would highly recommend it to anyone looking to advance their own business skills.”  
– Mike Bayes, Senior Vice-President, Client Experience, CCI Wireless 
 

The next Advanced Program in Management, Leadership, and Strategy starts on January 18, 2021. To find out more about the Advanced Program and other Executive Education programs, visit us online.