Great leaders work to create other great leaders.
That’s the most important lesson Erica Monet Li says she learned from participating in the Nonprofit Leadership Center’s Certificate in Leadership program.
For high-performing nonprofit professionals like Erica, many receive little to no training when they’re promoted from individual contributors into managerial roles. Prior to the pandemic, a West Monroe study found that the majority of managers (59%) overseeing one to two people receive no managerial training, and 41% of those who oversee three to five people never received training before becoming a manager.
The Certificate in Leadership is a 10-week program designed to address this gap by preparing rising nonprofit leaders who are new to managing people or programs to effectively lead and manage in our dynamically changing sector.
“I chose to participate in the Certificate in Leadership program because I wanted to evaluate how my leadership and communication styles could influence or hinder others from wanting to lead,. Leadership is a continuous growth and learning experience. Even though you may be a leader, it’s important and okay to acknowledge that you might not have all of the answers at a given time. Through effective collaboration, you can empower others to bring meaningful change or reach your team’s goals.”
The Certificate in Leadership consists of a virtual orientation, five half-day virtual training sessions, four virtual group coaching sessions, and an individual coaching session, all facilitated by experienced trainers and subject matter experts. Eligible participants must have less than three years of experience managing people or programs.
Certificate in Leadership graduates report measurable improvements in self-awareness, leadership capabilities, and the ability to respond authentically to the changes and challenges facing today’s nonprofit leaders.
“I learned that leading with humility involves actively listening to your team, taking their input and trusting them to do the job for which you hired them. I have been able to use the skills I learned from the Certificate in Leadership about self-reflection and active listening to lead bipartisan discussions to help improve our health care system in Florida.”
For those considering applying for the Certificate in Leadership, Erica recommends going into the program with an open mind: “Be prepared to actively engage with your cohort, and leverage the knowledge of your peers to enhance your own skills and abilities. Everyone who participates will learn something, whether it’s about communication, strategic planning, budgeting, outcome evaluation or so many other topics. I highly recommend the program.”
Erica Monet Li is a public health professional who specializes in social, behavioral and health education sciences with a concentration in health equity. She currently serves as a health policy analyst at Florida Policy Institute, an independent, non-partisan, nonprofit organization dedicated to advancing policies and budgets that improve the economic mobility and quality of life for all Floridians. Erica is a fellow with the Health Equity Academy in System Transformation with Families U.S.A, a leading national, non-partisan voice for health care consumers dedicated to achieving high-quality, affordable health care and improved health for all. She chairs the Tampa Bay Chapter of Sisters in Public Health where she works to connect all women in public health to create a safe space to empower, educate and evolve the next generation of public health leaders.