1 / 19

Graduate Women Leadership Institute: Leaders in Life

Graduate Women Leadership Institute: Leaders in Life. Professor Leslie A. Kolodziejski Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science. outline. identification of problem(s) vision to impact retention creation of trial Graduate Women Leadership Institute: Leaders in Life

nayef
Download Presentation

Graduate Women Leadership Institute: Leaders in Life

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Graduate Women Leadership Institute:Leaders in Life Professor Leslie A. Kolodziejski Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

  2. outline • identification of problem(s) • vision to impact retention • creation of trial Graduate Women Leadership Institute: Leaders in Life • moving forward

  3. “New EECS* Graduate Women Seminar Series” • ALL newly admitted women in EECS invited • typically 10-12 sign-up (out of 15-20) • student commits to attend entire 1st year • meet once a week for breakfast • started fall semester 2005; 5th year of offering *Department of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at MIT

  4. “New EECS Graduate Women Seminar Series” • Objectives: • opportunity to meet other women in EECS • understand expectations of being a grad student • special topics discussed • Sample of Topics (from Fall ’08): • EECS Graduate Program (MS, PhD) • Choosing a Research Topic/Advisor • What is expected of a RA/How to get a RA • What is expected of a TA/How to get a TA • How to Read a Journal Article • Overview of Technical Activities • Overview of Extracurricular Student Activities • Discussion - Senior Women Graduate StudentGuests • (from Spring ’09) • Writing a Thesis Proposal • Preparing a Research Talk • Preparing a Technical Poster • Mentoring: the importance and value • How to Improve Communication Skills • Discussion - Invited Guests: Women Faculty/Industry • Share Research Activities

  5. Vision • issues became apparent from “New EECS Graduate Women Seminar Series” • common themes: • loss of confidence • questioning of technical ability • isolation • modeled after undergraduate leadership program: LeaderShape Institute at MIT* *www.leadershape.org

  6. What is Leadersin Life Today? • trial offering of retention program • week-long summer retreat (2008) • 1-day workshop and dinner (2009) • 22 women LiL alumni NETWORK MIT Sponsors: Dept. of Elect. Engr. & Comp. Sci Comp. Sci. and Artificial Intelligence Lab Research Lab of Electronics

  7. Leadersin Life Starting Premise • Styles of leading and communicating differ by gender • Similarly perception of communication differs by gender GOAL: build awareness of gender-impacted dynamics in communication • to enhance individual effectiveness • to promote self-confidence • to nurture resilience

  8. Leadersin Life Acknowledges • Importance of support network is empowering • Importance of individual self-support is sustaining GOAL: promote a social and professional network to support women’s emergence as leading engineers/scientists while at MIT and beyond

  9. Leadersin Life Learning Objectives Identify implicit associations • Learn how they dictate power in the workplace Build professional communication skills & communicate powerfully across gender • Communicate more effectively with advisors, mentors & peers Assess & reflect on personality traits • Understand your preferences, strengths & the value of difference Understand the foundation of resilience & optimism • Learn to live optimistically & work with confidence Find the understanding and support you need to thrive, achieve, and be happy

  10. Leadersin Life TRIAL Program Experiential Learning • minimal lecturing, activity-based learning Dialogue and Discussion • large and small groups Self-Assessment and Reflection Coaching and Being Coached • peer coaching groups • learning assimilation groups • scenario groups Networking and Social Activities

  11. LiL Curriculum: Summer Retreat • Implicit Associations • Powerful Communication • Myers Brigg Type Indicator: personality preferences and impact on collaboration • Physical Dispositions • Feedback: requesting/providing • Scenario Work • Optimisim/Hardiness, Self-support and Balance • Creation of Individual Support Network

  12. Leadersin LifeSummer Retreat: Faculty Dr. Jacquie McLemore Organizational Behavior, McLemore Consulting Professor Leslie Kolodziejski Co-Creator of LiL Director, LiL@MIT Dr. Elisabeth Marley Asst. Prof. of EE Southern Methodist University Dr. Linda Garverick Co-Creator of LiL Coactive Consultants

  13. LiL Curriculum: Winter Retreat • Value of Mentor/Mentee Relationship • Understanding the Hardiness Survey* • Design LiL Mentoring Event • LiL Events for the Community • group pot-luck dinners • afternoon teas • reunion at Marconi Beach, Cape Cod • coordinating events with Graduate Women in Course VI (GW6) *www.hardinessinstitute.com

  14. Evaluation of Trial Program Feedback Form Rating Statements (23) about Program • 5 strongly agree • 4 agree • 3 neutral • 2 disagree • 1 strongly agree Example Statements: • The Leaders in Life retreat was a good use of my time: 4.95 out of 5 • I gained awareness that will increase my choices as a graduate student leaders: 4.67 out of 5 • I developed supportive relationships that will continue beyond the program: 4.62 out of 5 • I learned coping strategies that will increase my resilience: 4.24 out of 5 • I identified new role models and or mentors: 3.81 out of 5

  15. Evaluation of Trial Program Feedback Form to Rank Value of Concept • Rank top 8 concepts (out of 23) • Rate knowledge of concept before/after LiL program • no awareness • incomplete understanding • desire to learn more • clear understanding • proficient in use • Rate value of concept for success • no value • low value • moderate value • high value • essential Top Ranked Concepts: • making clear requests • separating data from assessments • developing transformational coping skills

  16. Evaluation of LiL Impact • repeated use of Hardiness Survey www.hardinessinstitute.com

  17. Participant Quotes for LiL • “This may be the most valuable course a graduate student will take at MIT.” • “I have changed my life in the course of one week. The tools and confidence I have gained will not only serve me, but will make my career! • “Skills to deal with the scientific world and beyond.” • “Revolutionary! I sort of wanted to put my PhD on hold for awhile. Now I am full of energy.” • “How immensely valuable this week has been to my self- confidence, happiness, and professional skills.” • This experience has been life changing for me. I wish every female grad student could benefit from this experience.” Marconi Beach, Cape Cod, 2008

  18. Moving Forward • Yearly offering of Leaders in Life at MIT • summer retreat, winter retreat • Actively seeking sponsorship • EECS, Phys, Schools of Science/Engr • Expand faculty participation • LiL alumni actively engaged • contribute to creation of curriculum • retreat facilitators

  19. individual effectiveness less stress/strain personal happiness greater career resilience My reflection: • majority population vs minority population • redirects assessment from personal to situational • Institutional change important; takes time • Personal development crucial • accurate assessment of situation • support to the network • support for the individual

More Related