Leadership Essentials is a six-month leadership development program for emerging leaders that runs from December to June each year. Participants in the cohort strengthen their leadership skills through full-day sessions, coaching, and a community service project. The Leadership Essentials Class of 2023 includes twenty-four emerging leaders from the private, public, and nonprofit sectors. Instituted by Leadership Howard County in 2007, Leadership Essentials is now managed by Loyola University Maryland as part of the ASPIRE Center for Continuing Education.
The three core components of Leadership Essentials are in-person and virtual workshops led by subject matter experts, one-on-one coaching, and a team-based Community Impact Project to support a local nonprofit. The skill-building workshops focus on leadership topics such as self-awareness, communication skills, high performing teams, conflict management, and more. Participants work one-on-one with a leadership coach to further develop critical thinking skills, strengthen relationships, and manage conflict. Community Impact Projects not only provide support to a local nonprofit but offer participants a practical learning lab to further develop teamwork, project management, and communication skills. The 2023 Community Impact Project hosts are Community Development Network of Maryland, GEDCO, and JustLiving Advocacy.
The Leadership Essentials program benefits from the strong collaboration with Leadership Howard County, as well as the LE community of alumni, coaches, non-profit project hosts, community leaders, and facilitators.
Plans are underway for Leadership Essentials 2024! Recruitment will begin this Summer with group and individual information sessions. Applications are due in early October and the program runs from Dec-June. Please visit www.loyola.edu/leadership-essentials or contact Katherine Keefe, Leadership Essentials Program Consultant, at [email protected] for more information or to volunteer.
Leadership Essentials Class of 2023
Stephanie Adibe, Deputy Director, Community Resources & Services, Howard County Government
Maggie Beauchamp, Associate Director of Engineering, CRISP Shared Services
Hope Campbell, Associate Advisor, FAI Wealth Advisors
Santiago Carrera, Santiago Carrera Realtor Group of Exit Realty
Jin Chung, Business Banking Relationship Manager, M&T Bank
Sandy Cos, Director of Equity and Community Engagement, Howard Community College
Adrienne Criss, Physicist, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (APL)
Rex Echevarria, Apps Team Lead, CRISP Shared Services
Sean Gauntt, Senior Professional Staff, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (APL)
Brady Greer, Real Estate Services Program Administrator, Columbia Association
Vanessa Hughes, Supportive Services for Older Adults Program Manager, Howard County Government
Jillian Joseph, Executive Director, Ellicott City Partnership
Adrienne Mabee, Software Product Manager, enGen
Efrika McIver, Product Analyst – IT, Exelon
Father David Milad, St. Barnabas & St. Susanna Coptic Orthodox Church
Jon Oberst, Marketing Manager, Whiting Turner Contracting Company
Sumit Patel, Sr. Data Analyst, Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT)
Dorothy Peoples, Assistant Superintendent, Maryland Transit Authority
Dannika Rynes, Sr. Manager of Communications & Media Relations, Columbia Association
Olatunde Sanni, Senior Professional Staff, Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Lab (APL)
Jennifer Sullivan, Program Administrator, Simon Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, Loyola University
Laura Swartz, Sr. Interior Designer – Portfolio Manager, Corporate Office Properties Trust (COPT)
Tayler Tarlton, Director of Programs & Events, Howard County Chamber of Commerce
Katherine Turner, Director of Finance & Decision Support, Howard County General Hospital